Christmas in Italy 2026: Markets, Lights and Nativity Scenes

Updated September 2026. Dates checked on each event’s official website, the organizing city, or the local press where the organizer had not yet published; where the 2026 dates were not yet out, we say so. See the note at the end.

Christmas in Italy starts earlier than most visitors expect. The first light festivals switch on in mid-November, the Alpine markets open before the end of the month, and the season runs through Epiphany on January 6. This guide covers ten events across the north, center and south, from the markets of South Tyrol to the nativity workshops of Naples, with the 2026 dates the organizers have announced so far.

Looking only for the markets? Our guide to Christmas markets in Italy lists the official 2026 dates and hours for Bolzano, Merano, Trento, Florence, Arezzo and more.

Christmas in Italy 2026 at a glance

Three dates shape the whole season: December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a public holiday that falls on a Tuesday in 2026; Christmas Day, a Friday; and Epiphany, January 6, 2027, a Wednesday, when most markets close. Expect crowds, and higher hotel prices, on the weekend of December 5 to 8.

Bolzano Christmas Market, South Tyrol

Bolzano’s market opens on November 27, 2026 and runs to January 6, 2027, with the opening ceremony on November 26 at 5 pm. It is centered on Piazza Walther, with stalls in the squares and streets around it, and is open from 10 am to 7 pm. Expect South Tyrolean crafts, wool and wood, Alpine food and vin brulé, mulled wine.

Trento Christmas Markets

Trento’s markets run from November 20, 2026 to January 6, 2027, in Piazza Fiera and Piazza Mostra. Stalls are open from 10 am to 8 pm, and the food court stays open until 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Hours are shorter on December 24, December 31 and January 6 (10 am to 6 pm), and on Christmas Day the market opens from 4 pm to 8 pm. Trento and Bolzano are on the same railway line, under an hour apart, so one trip can cover both.

Luci d’Artista, Salerno

Salerno’s festival of light installations runs from November 14, 2026 to February 1, 2027, longer than any other event on this list. The installations are spread across the city center and are best seen after dark. Salerno is the gateway to the Amalfi Coast: see the Amalfi Coast travel guide, or, from Naples, compare the Pompeii and Amalfi Coast day trips.

Arezzo Città del Natale

Arezzo’s Christmas season, in its 11th edition, runs from November 14, 2026 to January 6, 2027, with most events from Thursday to Sunday. The organizers have announced light projections on Piazza Grande and the town hall every evening from 5 pm to midnight, an installation of more than 640,000 LEDs at the Prato park with an ice rink and a Ferris wheel, a chocolate space with Eurochocolate, and Christmas markets in Piazza Grande until December 27. For the rest of the region, see the Tuscany travel guide and our guide to Christmas in Florence.

Gardaland Magic Winter, Lake Garda

Gardaland’s Christmas season, Magic Winter, runs from December 5, 2026 to January 6, 2027, on the park’s published opening days. It is the family pick on this list. The park is on the southeastern shore of Lake Garda, near Verona: pair it with a Lake Garda day trip to Sirmione or a day in Verona.

Oh Bej! Oh Bej!, Milan

Milan’s traditional Christmas fair is held around December 7, the feast of St. Ambrose, the city’s patron saint, for about four days, in the streets around the Sforza Castle. The city’s tourism board traces the tradition to the 16th century. In 2026, December 7 falls on a Monday; the fair’s 2026 dates had not been published when we checked. If you are in Milan for it, compare the Last Supper tours, which need booking well ahead in December, and see the Lombardy travel guide.

Verona Christmas Markets

Verona’s Christmas markets, modeled on Nuremberg’s Christkindlmarkt, usually run from late November to late December. In the most recent edition, Visit Verona placed them in Piazza Bra, by the Arena, and in the squares leading up to Piazza dei Signori. Around December 13, the feast of Santa Lucia, Piazza Bra also fills with the traditional stalls of sweets and toys for a feast Veronese children wait for even more than Christmas. The 2026 dates had not been published when we checked. See the city with the Verona walking tours.

Naples and San Gregorio Armeno

Via San Gregorio Armeno, in the historic center of Naples, is the street of the nativity workshops, where artisans make the figures and scenes of the Neapolitan presepe. The workshops are open all year, but the street is at its fullest, and most crowded, from November to early January; go on a weekday morning if you can. Plan the rest of your stay with the Naples travel guide, and to add a hands-on evening, compare the Naples pizza-making classes.

Favole di Luce, Gaeta

Gaeta, on the coast of southern Lazio, dresses its old town and seafront in light installations for Favole di Luce, “Fairy Tales of Light”, usually from November to January. The 2026 dates had not been announced when we checked; the event’s official site publishes them each fall. See the Lazio travel guide for the rest of the region.

Living Nativity in the Sassi, Matera

Matera’s Living Nativity is staged along a route through the Sassi, the ancient cave districts, on selected days in December and early January, with costumed performers and scenes set in the caves and alleys. The 2026 dates and ticketing had not been announced when we checked. Matera is an easy day from Bari: compare the Alberobello and Matera day trips, and see the Puglia travel guide.

Practical tips for Christmas in Italy

• Book the December 8 weekend early: it is a public holiday, and in 2026 it makes a four-day weekend from December 5.
• Check hours on December 24, 25 and 31: most markets close early or open late, as Trento’s published hours show.
• Go on weekdays for the busiest places, from Bolzano to San Gregorio Armeno.
• Dress for the Alps: the northern markets are outdoors and cold after dark.
• Recheck dates before you travel: several 2026 programs were still being published when we updated this guide.

Sources: Bolzano from the official Bolzano Christmas Market site; Trento from Visit Trento’s Christmas site; Luci d’Artista from the City of Salerno; Magic Winter from Gardaland; Arezzo Città del Natale from ArezzoNotizie’s report on the 2026 program; Verona from Visit Verona; Oh Bej! Oh Bej! from YesMilano. All checked in September 2026. We will update this guide as the remaining organizers publish their 2026 dates.

Frequently asked questions

When do Christmas markets open in Italy in 2026?

Among the dates already published for 2026: Trento opens on November 20 and Bolzano on November 27, both running to January 6, 2027. Salerno’s Luci d’Artista lights start on November 14, as does Arezzo Città del Natale. Verona’s markets usually run from late November to late December.

When is the Bolzano Christmas Market in 2026?

From November 27, 2026 to January 6, 2027, with the opening ceremony on November 26 at 5 pm. It is centered on Piazza Walther and open from 10 am to 7 pm.

When is Luci d’Artista in Salerno in 2026?

From November 14, 2026 to February 1, 2027.

When is the Oh Bej! Oh Bej! fair in Milan?

Around December 7, the feast of St. Ambrose, Milan’s patron saint, for about four days, around the Sforza Castle. In 2026, December 7 falls on a Monday; the 2026 dates had not been published when we checked in September.

Is December 8 a public holiday in Italy?

Yes. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, is a national public holiday. In 2026 it falls on a Tuesday, so many Italians take a long weekend around it.