New Year in Italy 2027
What is already official for the night between 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027, what is still being prepared and which rules apply in the squares.
New Year 2027 comes with a convenient calendar: San Silvestro (New Year's Eve) falls on Thursday 31 December 2026, 1 January is a Friday and the weekend stretches the celebrations to four full days, up to Sunday 3 January. Epiphany falls on Wednesday 6 January: for the closing festivities see Epiphany and Befana.
This page was checked on 12 November 2026, when almost no municipality had published its full programme. For each city I keep two levels apart: what is already published for 2027 and, as a reference, what happened on the night between 31 December 2025 and 1 January 2026. Artists are often announced well into December. Check the municipality's website before booking.
The state of the programmes on 12 November 2026
| City | Where | Status for 2027 | In 2025, as a reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | Circo Massimo (historic venue) | Programme not yet published; the historic venue is the Circo Massimo | Free concert with Alessandra Amoroso, Fabri Fibra and Tananai, starting between 21:00 and 21:30, over 40,000 people expected |
| Milan | Piazza Duomo | The city council has sought an organiser for a free show on 31 December; artists not yet published | No concert, access to the square limited to 4,500 people |
| Naples | Piazza del Plebiscito | Programme not yet published; the 2025 edition included a concert in the square, an urban contest on 30 December and a DJ set on the Caracciolo seafront | Elodie, Serena Brancale, Lda, Franco Ricciardi, Gigi Finizio |
| Palermo | Square not yet announced | Rai 1 broadcasts "L'anno che verrà" live from Palermo on the evening of 31 December 2026; cast not yet published | Arisa and The Kolors |
| Bologna | Piazza Maggiore | Programme not yet published; the tradition is the Rogo del Vecchione (burning of the Old Man) at midnight | Access limited to 9,000 people with coupons, DJ set on the Crescentone |
| Turin | Inalpi Arena (31 December), Teatro Regio (1 January) | Two events announced; artists and access not yet published | Planet Funk, Irossa, Bambole di Pezza, Deejay Time Live |
| Florence | Piazza Santa Croce (2025 venue) | Not yet published | Free concert from 21:00 to 01:00 with Paola Iezzi, Tiromancino, Franco126 |
| Genoa | Piazza della Vittoria | Programme not yet published | Pinguini Tattici Nucleari |
| Siena | Piazza del Campo | Francesco Gabbani, free entry | Irama |
| Bari | Piazza della Libertà (2025 venue) | Not yet published | "Capodanno in musica" on Canale 5 with Gigi D'Alessio, Umberto Tozzi, Raf |
| Sardinia | Iglesias, Alghero, Sassari, Cagliari | Iglesias: Bresh. Alghero, Sassari and Cagliari (Largo Carlo Felice): programmes not yet published | Cagliari: Giusy Ferreri |
Among the ticketed concerts is the New Year concert of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano at the Auditorium di largo Mahler: Beethoven's Ninth conducted by Case Scaglione on 29, 30 and 31 December 2026 at 20:00 and on 1 January 2027 at 16:00, with tickets on HappyTicket.
Rome: Circo Massimo, Quirinale and Vatican
The Circo Massimo concert is the biggest free event of the night in the capital. In 2025 it had metal-detector checkpoints and an estimated attendance of over 40,000 people: arrive early, bring little, leave glass and umbrellas at home. For 2027 the city council has not yet published anything: the Turismo Roma portal is the official source to follow.
In the Vatican the civil year closes with the Te Deum: in 2025 it was held on 31 December at 17:00 in St Peter's, after the First Vespers of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and on 1 January at 10:00 there is the Mass for the World Day of Peace. The 2026-27 times are not yet published; for papal celebrations a ticket request to the liturgical office is often required (the 2025 notice provided for it).
Naples: Plebiscito and seafront
In Naples the night is double: the concert in Piazza del Plebiscito and the fireworks on the Castel dell'Ovo seafront. In 2025 the city council banned, from the afternoon of 31 December, drinks in glass, hard plastic and cans in Piazza del Plebiscito, Piazza Municipio and the Caracciolo seafront, as well as irritant sprays, fireworks and rockets. The time of the 2027 fireworks has not yet been published: wait for the city council's poster.
Milan, Bologna, Venice and Florence
Milan. In July 2026 the city council collected expressions of interest from private companies for a free event in Piazza Duomo on the evening of Thursday 31 December 2026: the chosen organiser takes care of the concept and the costs and looks for sponsors, while the city council provides the public spaces. Proposals were due by 10 August 2026 at 12:00. Artists and times have not yet been published. The 2025 night, without a concert, had a cordon of 17 checkpoints and a cap of 4,500 admissions to the square.
Bologna. The ritual is the Rogo del Vecchione, a large effigy that burns at midnight in Piazza Maggiore. The 2025 one, the "Gremlin oviparo" by the artist DEM, was made of branches and heather. On 1 January 2026 the Gran Ballo Ottocentesco (Nineteenth-Century Grand Ball) was also held at Palazzo Re Enzo, at 16:00 and 17:30. See Bologna.
Venice. The fireworks are watched from the Bacino di San Marco: the spots mentioned by the guides are Riva degli Schiavoni (Arsenale stop), Riva Ca' di Dio, Riva San Biagio and Riva dei Sette Martiri. At the Gran Teatro La Fenice the New Year concert takes place on 1 January (in 2026 with repeat performances from 28 to 31 December). On 1 January at midday the Ibernisti (winter swimmers) dive in at the Lido, with lentils and cotechino after the swim. See Venice.
Florence. In Piazza Santa Croce the 2025 concert was promoted by the city council and organised by Fondazione MUS.E with Sky. Nothing has been announced for 2027. See Florence.
Bans and rules
The national basis is Legislative Decree 123/2015. F1 products (minimal risk) are sold from the age of 14, F2 (low risk, outdoor use in controlled areas) from 18, F3 require a licence or authorisation from the questore (provincial police chief), F4 are for professionals. Buy only items with the CE mark and use them at the distances shown on the label. Penalties range from fines to arrest, up to three years in serious cases.
Municipal ordinances change every year and usually come out in the last two weeks of December. Those of 2025, useful as a guide:
| City | 2025 bans |
|---|---|
| Rome | Firecrackers and fireworks from 00:01 on 31 December to midnight on 6 January, with fines from 25 to 500 euros; fountains, sparklers and pull-string bottle poppers allowed |
| Milan | Glass and irritant sprays within the ring of trolleybus line 90/91 |
| Naples | Glass, hard plastic, cans, sprays, fireworks and rockets in Plebiscito, Municipio and the Caracciolo seafront |
| Bologna | Piazza Maggiore with limited numbers and a coupon to hand back on exit; no takeaway alcohol in glass or cans |
| Florence | Glass, firecrackers and irritant sprays, fines up to 500 euros |
| Venice | Ban on drinking in the street; sprays and dangerous objects forbidden in the show areas |
| Bari | From 12:00 on 31 December to 05:00: no music from speakers outside venues, no takeaway glass, no fireworks |
| Elsewhere | Capri and Anacapri: ban from 20 December to 6 January. Padua: drones instead of fireworks. Imperia: fireworks allowed only between midnight and 01:00 |
San Silvestro traditions
At the table people eat lentils, which with their round shape evoke coins and bring money, accompanied by cotechino or zampone, typical of Emilia. Toasts are made with spumante at midnight, often with a grape or something red on: red underwear is the most popular lucky charm. In the late evening television broadcasts the President of the Republic's end-of-year message, and then live shows from the squares: on the evening of 31 December 2026 Rai 1 broadcasts "L'anno che verrà" from Palermo. In Naples and other southern cities the custom, now discouraged, of throwing old things out of the window survives.
For the dinner at home, estimates from the end of 2025 spoke of 127 euros per family (Unimpresa) or 104 euros (Coldiretti/Ixè), with the South above the average. In restaurants the 2026 New Year menus covered by one survey ranged from 34 to 1,400 euros per person: book by mid-December and ask whether the price includes the toast and drinks.
Trains, metro and buses at night
On New Year's night local transport follows special timetables and often stops early. Atac, ATM and ANM have not yet published the 2026-27 times: the table gives the 2025-26 ones as a reference.
| City | 2025-26 times |
|---|---|
| Rome | Metro until 02:30 on 1 January, then night buses nMA, nMB, nMB1, nMC until 08:00; on 1 January services from 08:00. Digital ticket "Christmas Mobility Pass" at 10 euros, valid on buses, trams and metro also on 31 December and 1 January |
| Milan | Metro on a Saturday timetable, until about 01:00; then night buses NM1-NM4. Duomo and Montenapoleone stations closed from 19:00 for public order reasons, use San Babila, Cordusio or Missori |
| Naples | Line 1 without interruption on 31 December; Centrale and Chiaia funiculars non-stop; buses stopped from 20:00. On 1 January metro suspended from 13:30 to 16:30 |
| Turin | Metro from 07:00 to 03:00 on 31 December and until 00:30 on 1 January; lines 4 and 10 reinforced for the concert |
| Venice | 16 extra regional trains from Santa Lucia towards Mestre, Treviso, Padua, Verona, Rovigo, Conegliano, Portogruaro between 00:51 and 04:27; access only with a valid ticket |
For up-to-date details use the sites of Atac, ATM Milan, ANM Naples and Trenitalia. It is best to arrive on 30 December and leave from 2 January: the 31st and the 1st have fewer services.
Where to stay
Cities with limited-access squares (Rome, Milan, Bologna) have the most expensive hotels on the nights of the 30th and 31st. Sleeping outside the centre but near a metro line that stays open is often more practical than looking for a room a step from the square, where walking back is the only option. Many properties ask for a minimum of two or three nights for San Silvestro and a non-refundable deposit: read the cancellation policy. For those who prefer the mountains, see Christmas and New Year in the mountains, and for the full calendar Italian Christmas calendar.
- Circo Massimo, Rome: Historic free concert, 2027 programme not yet published
- St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City: Te Deum of 31 December
- Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples: Concert in the square, 2027 programme not yet published
- Castel dell'Ovo, Naples: Fireworks on the seafront
- Piazza Duomo, Milan: Free event on 31 December, programme not yet published
- Piazza Maggiore, Bologna: Rogo del Vecchione at midnight
- Piazza Santa Croce, Florence: 2025 concert venue, 2027 not yet published
- Riva degli Schiavoni, Venice: Fireworks viewing point
- Piazza del Campo, Siena: Francesco Gabbani
Good to know
- Getting there: book train and room by mid-December; on 31 December services end early and on 1 January many lines only start in the afternoon.
- When to go to the square: limited-access squares (Bologna 9,000, Milan 4,500 in 2025) fill up hours ahead; go at least two hours before the start.
- What not to bring: glass, cans, sprays, fireworks; in Rome and Florence fines reach 500 euros and the material may be seized.
- How much it costs: concerts in the squares are free; dinners and theatres are ticketed, from 34 euros upwards in the 2026 surveys.
- What to check: municipal ordinances, metro and bus times, possible strikes, which usually come out in the last two weeks of December.
- On 1 January: reduced hours for museums and shops (in Bologna the civic museums in 2026 opened from 12:00 to 19:00); check beforehand and book lunch.