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Rome events in May 2026 - Holidays, exhibits, concerts, and other things to do
On of my favorite Rome events in May is the opening of Rome's Roseto Rose Garden.
One of my favorite things about Rome in May is the beautiful Roseto Rose Garden on the Aventine Hill.But there's actually quite a lot going on this month in Rome that you may want to prepare for.
Rome events in May 2026 - What's happening
I love Rome in May for a lot of reasons, like the beautiful spring weather, longer days, and flowers in bloom all over the city, making the air smell so sweet.
The weather in Rome this month can be cooler than many people expect, which makes it comfortable for sight-seeing.
It's also lovely weather for eating outdoors, even in the evening.
Here are the best Rome events in May 2026:
- Holidays in Rome in May
- Current exhibits at Rome's museums
- Sports/sporting events in Rome in May
- Free things to do in Rome in May
- Strikes and public transport disruptions in May
- Concerts and operas in Rome in May
- Tours to take in Rome in May
- Day trips to take in Rome in May
- Things to do with kids in Rome in May
Holidays and special dates in Rome in May
The main holiday to know about in Rome in May is May 1, or May Day.
But there are also some new openings and other interesting things to see and do in Rome in May.
May 1 or May Day
May 1 is a national holiday called International Workers' Day, or May Day.
It's celebrated throughout most European countries and is a kind of Labor Day.
I find that Romans enjoy it more than anything as a day for a picnic or big outdoor lunch.
There's always a concert, which is held in the piazza in front of the basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (Saint John in Lateran).
No matter what season you visit Rome, here are 4 essential things we recommend never leaving home without:
What's closed on May 1, 2026:
What's open on May 1, 2026:
- Colosseum/Roman Forum/Palatine Hill
- Galleria Borghese
- Saint Peter's Basilica (and other churches)
- Galleria Doria Pamphilj
- The Pantheon
Flowers in Rome in May
Flowers are blooming all over the city and it smells wonderful.
Here are some special places to see flowers in Rome in May:
Rome's Roseto Rose Garden
Rome's Roseto Rose Garden on the Aventine Hill is open through the month of May.
(Actually, the Roseto opens on April 21, Rome's birthday and closes in early-June. It also reopens for a couple of weeks in mid-October.)
But May is when you will see the roses at their most beautiful and in full bloom.
It's not only free, but it's usually fairly uncrowded.
Rome's Roseto Rose garden is a special thing to visit in May, as it's only open from April 21 - the first week of June (and again for two weeks in October.)Open daily from 8 AM - 5:30 PM (subject to change).
At some point in mid-May, the garden may be closed for a day because there is a contest for the most beautiful roses that year.
There will be a sign up on the gates stating what day they might close.
Sometimes they only close the lower half.
With beautiful views of the Palatine Hill as its backdrop, visiting the Roseto Rose Garden is one of my favorite things to do in spring.
Did you know?
The Roseto Rose Garden is also a cemetery.
Late April/early May - Azaleas on the Spanish Steps
From mid April through early May, the Spanish Steps are covered in azaleas.
It makes the Spanish Steps more beautiful than ever, and is even more special since the flowers are only there for a few weeks.
I think one of everyone's favorite Rome events in May is when the Spanish Steps get adorned with blooming pink and white azaleas. To get this kind of shot, you'll need to come by about 7 AM!The best time to photograph them like this without the crowds is at around 7 in the morning.
Pentecost
Pentecost is observed on the seventh Sunday after Easter and 10 days after Ascension.
Pentecost Sunday takes place on the 50th day of Easter.
Pentecost is often in May but can also be in early June.
In 2026, it takes place on May 24th.
You may want to try to get a coveted spot by attending mass at the Pantheon, where firemen throw thousands of rose petals down from the oculus.
This has become extremely popular in recent years and now, the only chance of getting inside on this morning is to show up at by 7 AM at the latest, and wait in line for the mass to begin.
The Pantheon is not open to visitors on the morning of the Pentecost.
It's ONLY open for people to attend mass.
It reopens after everyone leaves and they have cleaned the floor.
It's free to attend mass and there is no way to buy a ticket to this event.
Current exhibits and events at Rome's museums in May 2026
The cooler spring months are a great time to take in the arts indoors.
There are several Rome events in May 2026 at various museums around the city.
And as a bonus, at this time of year, some museums stay open later on the weekends, so you have even more time to fit them into your itinerary:
National Gallery of Ancient Art in Palazzo Barberini
Bernini e i Barberini
This exhibition explores the extraordinary relationship between Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Maffeo Barberini, Bernini's first and most important patron, who was elected pope in 1623 with the name of Urban VIII, highlighting how the ambition of a pope and the genius of an artist rewrote the aesthetics of an entire era.
February 12 2026 - June 14 2026
For more details, click here.
There are a lot of smaller exhibitions in May.
To see a complete list of them, visit this page of the Rome Tourist Board where you can filter to see all Rome events in May, or drill down further by category such as dance, music, etc.
Sport/sporting Rome events in May
If you are a tennis buff, you may already know that every May, the BNL Tennis championships are held at the Olympic Stadium (Foro Italico) in Rome.
Some events are also held in Piazza del Popolo.
April 28 - May 17 2026
Every May, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is held in Rome.
This 4-day event begins in Circus Maximus, where there are all kinds of things to participate in, leading up to the race.
The race goes through the historic center of Rome.
May 7-10 2026
NB - The site for the race is only in Italian but try translate.google.com if you want to learn more about the events or to participate.
The perfect 3-day itinerary in Rome
Trying to figure out how to organize your visit to Rome? I've got the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors (or those who have not been here in a while.) It works for a 2.5 day visit as well.
In my 3-day itinerary, you'll see all the major must-see Rome attractions like the Vatican, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, and much more.
And if you have more time, or want suggestions for extra/other things to do, you'll find that there too.
Visit my page with the best 3-day itinerary in Rome for first-timers.
Free Things to do in May
If you're looking for some fun Rome events in May that are free, the below are confirmed for 2026:
The first Sunday of the month, Rome's Civic Museums are free for everyone.
On Sunday May 3, 2026 you can visit the Capitoline Museums, Ara Pacis, Villa Torlonia, Trajan's Market and many others for free.
For more details and booking, click the link below to visit the official site.
The Vatican Museums will be free and open on Sunday May 31, 2026.
Expect large crowds on this day.
St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square are free and open daily.
You cannot buy tickets in advance for the Free Sunday, but you can book a tour of the museums through the Vatican.
If you don't want to book this tour, just come early.
By early I mean by 8 AM.
But otherwise I recommend you book your visit ahead of time and pay to go another day.
On Sunday May 3 2026, the Colosseum will be free for everyone.
You can expect the Colosseum to be pretty much a mob scene.
I'd highly recommend visiting one of the other sites that is also free on this day, like the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill, or Ostia Antica.
Strikes and Public Transport Disruptions in May 2026
Occasional strikes do happen in Italy, which can affect airports, taxis, public transport and more.
Called 'sciopero' in Italian, it is entirely legal for workers to strike here, but there are specific rules that have to be followed.
There are guaranteed services that have to be provided regardless of the strike and strikes can only run for a set time period.
Strikes can be at a national or regional level, and as there are many unions workers can be members of, often it is not an entire workforce that is on strike at once.
However, these strikes can still be disruptive, so there are a few things to consider if one has been announced.
How to Check Confirmed Strike Actions
In theory you can see all upcoming strikes on the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport website.
However, this is hard to decipher and to understand if your plans are going to be affected. So, instead, I recommend checking the official news/updates pages for the relevant organizations, namely:
- Trenitalia - for regional and high speed trains
- Italo - for high speed trains *these can also be affected by strike action even though they are a private company*
- ATAC - for public transport in Rome (buses, trams and Metro lines)
- Cotral - for the Metromare line to Ostia and other routes in Lazio
- Aeroporti di Roma - for information affecting flights in and out of Fiumicino and Ciampino airports
- Roma Comune - for information on Rome taxi strikes or other disruptions in the city
With all of these, you can also see general information about route changes or other things that could impact you so they are useful links to have saved.
On these pages, the affected organizations will not only confirm the details of a strike, but also the guaranteed services and timings of the strike action.
Very infrequently there are strikes by other unions that impact workers at museums or archeological sites, but if you have tickets that could be impacted by this, you will be contacted directly.
Strikes get called off or amended at the last minute all the time.
So if you think your travel could be affected, keep checking the official channels as there might be no need to change your plans.
Strikes in May 2026
There are no strike dates currently confirmed for May 2026. We are closely monitoring official announcements and will keep this page updated as new information becomes available.
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Rome events in May - Concerts, operas, shows
Disclosure : If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!
Freddie Mercury Opera Show - Opera da Camera
Explore a novel interpretation of Queen's iconic tracks, transformed for Italian opera virtuosos from the Opera da Camera di Roma ensemble and piano accompaniment.
Mercury's own passion for opera inspires this unprecedented concert, promising a collection of extraordinary musical delights.
For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.
I Virtuosi dell’opera di Roma - Church of Saint Paul's Within the Walls
An intense yet fascinating world of lyrical Opera. This show features a six‐musician ensamble and internationally renowned singers performing an incredible journey in between great music and belcanto.
For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.
The Great Opera Arias - Palazzo Poli
This concert takes place at the beloved Palazzo Poli, backdrop to The Trevi Fountain.
With an incredible line up featuring Boccherini, Vivaldi, Verdi, Marcello, and more - this show is not to be missed!
For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.
Musical biography of Frank Sinatra - Opera Da Camera
An Italian‐style concert featuring the music of Frank Sinatra, blending Italian melodies with classical arias. Performers from Opera da Camera di Roma and a piano player will showcase inventive arrangements in an intimate and historic concert hall.
For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here
For more concerts and music Rome events in May and the rest of the year, visit our dedicated Concerts page or click here.
Tours to take in Rome in May
Booking a tour is a good way to make sure you get tickets to the sites you want to visit, and also get to enjoy them without fighting the crowds too much.
And even if it's not too crowded, a tour is a great way to see the sights and get to know a bit about them as you go.
For more tours to take in May, start here:
Day trips to take in Rome in May
May is a wonderful time to take a day trip, especially if you want to try some food/wine ventures outside Rome.
We have lots of options for places to visit which you can easily reach within 1-2 hours of Rome.
For organized day trips, visit Get Your Guide.
Activities with kids in Rome in May
Whether you are visiting Rome in May for spring break or just for a short getaway, if you are coming with kids, there are plenty of tours and activities in Rome geared towards children of all ages.
If you're looking for some fun activities with kids, start here:
I've listed some of what I think are the most fun and interesting Rome events in May, and most central.
For a complete list of events in May, visit the website of the Rome Tourist Board.
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