Italy's public holidays in 2026 include national civic holidays, Christian religious holidays and a newly established national holiday for Saint Francis of Assisi. October 4 returns as a nationwide holiday from 2026 under Law No. 151 of 2025. Italy also recognizes local patron-saint holidays, but those apply according to the municipality and are not included in the nationwide schedule below.
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Next Public Holiday in Italy
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Sunday | All Saints' Day | Officially Scheduled |
Public Holidays in Italy 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Officially Scheduled |
| January 6, 2026 | Tuesday | Epiphany | Officially Scheduled |
| April 5, 2026 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Confirmed |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Confirmed |
| April 25, 2026 | Saturday | Liberation Day | Officially Scheduled |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Officially Scheduled |
| June 2, 2026 | Tuesday | Republic Day | Officially Scheduled |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Assumption of the Virgin Mary | Officially Scheduled |
| October 4, 2026 | Sunday | National Day of Saint Francis of Assisi | Officially Scheduled |
| November 1, 2026 | Sunday | All Saints' Day | Officially Scheduled |
| December 8, 2026 | Tuesday | Immaculate Conception | Officially Scheduled |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Officially Scheduled |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | St. Stephen's Day | Officially Scheduled |
How Public Holidays Work in Italy
Italy's holiday framework is based on national legislation, religious holiday provisions and employment rules. The Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies lists the paid holidays recognized under the national framework for the 2026–2028 period.
The nationwide list includes New Year's Day, Epiphany, Easter, Easter Monday, Liberation Day, Labour Day, Republic Day, the Assumption, Saint Francis of Assisi, All Saints' Day, the Immaculate Conception, Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day.
New Saint Francis of Assisi National Holiday in 2026
One of the most important changes to Italy's 2026 holiday calendar is the restoration of October 4 as the national holiday of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Law No. 151 of October 8, 2025 established October 4 as a national holiday in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy. The law took effect on January 1, 2026, making 2026 the first year in which the restored holiday applies.
The legislation amended Italy's existing holiday law to include October 4 among the country's statutory festive days.
Does Saint Francis Day Move to Monday in 2026?
No automatic Monday substitute is created simply because October 4 falls on a Sunday in 2026. The legislation establishes October 4 itself as the national holiday.
For workers whose normal weekly rest day is Sunday, employment rules determine the treatment of a national holiday that coincides with Sunday, rather than moving the statutory holiday to Monday.
Easter Holidays in Italy in 2026
Easter Sunday falls on April 5, 2026, and Easter Monday, known in Italian as Lunedì dell'Angelo or commonly as Pasquetta, falls on April 6, 2026.
Italy's Ministry of Culture confirmed both dates through its official 2026 Easter programming. Easter and Easter Monday are also included among the holidays recognized in the Ministry of Labour's 2026–2028 employment framework.
Liberation Day in Italy
Liberation Day is observed nationally on April 25. It commemorates the liberation of Italy from Nazi occupation and Fascism during the Second World War.
In 2026, April 25 falls on a Saturday. The holiday remains on its statutory calendar date rather than automatically moving to the following Monday.
Labour Day in Italy
Italy observes Labour Day, or Festa del Lavoro, on May 1. In 2026, May 1 falls on a Friday.
Because the holiday falls immediately before the weekend for many employees working a Monday-to-Friday schedule, it creates a three-day weekend without requiring a substitute holiday.
Republic Day in Italy
Republic Day, or Festa della Repubblica, is celebrated on June 2 each year. The date commemorates the institutional referendum held in June 1946 that led to the establishment of the Italian Republic.
Law No. 260 of May 27, 1949 identifies June 2 as the national celebration of the founding of the Republic. In 2026, Republic Day falls on a Tuesday.
Ferragosto and the Assumption in Italy
August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and is also widely known in Italy as Ferragosto. It is a nationally recognized holiday.
In 2026, August 15 falls on a Saturday. The statutory holiday remains August 15; there is no general national rule automatically shifting it to Monday.
All Saints' Day in Italy
All Saints' Day is observed nationally on November 1. In 2026, November 1 falls on a Sunday.
The holiday remains on its statutory calendar date. Italy does not generally create a substitute Monday whenever a national holiday falls on Sunday.
Immaculate Conception in Italy
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a national holiday on December 8. In 2026, December 8 falls on a Tuesday.
The holiday traditionally marks an important point in Italy's Christmas season and is recognized nationally under the country's holiday framework.
Christmas Holidays in Italy in 2026
Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, 2026, followed by St. Stephen's Day on Saturday, December 26.
Both dates are nationally recognized holidays. There is no automatic additional Monday holiday merely because St. Stephen's Day falls on Saturday.
Local Patron-Saint Holidays in Italy
Italy has an important local-holiday layer that should not be confused with nationwide public holidays. The feast day of the patron saint of the municipality where work is performed can be treated as a holiday under employment rules.
For example, Rome observes the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, while Milan observes Saint Ambrose on December 7. These holidays apply locally and are therefore not included in the nationwide VisaBoards public-holiday schedule.
What Happens When an Italian Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
Italy does not generally operate a nationwide substitute-holiday system in which every Saturday or Sunday holiday automatically moves to Monday.
The statutory date normally remains the holiday. Employment rules may provide particular compensation or treatment when a recognized holiday coincides with a worker's weekly rest day, but that does not change the date of the national holiday itself.
This is relevant in 2026 because Liberation Day falls on Saturday, the Assumption falls on Saturday, Saint Francis of Assisi falls on Sunday, All Saints' Day falls on Sunday and St. Stephen's Day falls on Saturday.
Long Weekends in Italy in 2026
New Year's Holiday
New Year's Day falls on Thursday, January 1. Employees who choose to take Friday, January 2 as annual leave may be able to create a four-day break through Sunday, depending on their workplace schedule. January 2 itself is not a national public holiday.
Labour Day Weekend
Labour Day falls on Friday, May 1, creating a natural three-day weekend for many employees whose normal rest days are Saturday and Sunday.
Republic Day
Republic Day falls on Tuesday, June 2. Taking Monday, June 1 as annual leave could create a four-day break for employees with a standard weekend schedule. June 1 itself is not an official national holiday.
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception falls on Tuesday, December 8. Employees who take Monday, December 7 as annual leave may be able to extend the weekend, although December 7 is not a nationwide holiday.
Christmas Weekend
Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25 and St. Stephen's Day on Saturday, December 26, creating an extended Christmas break for many workers depending on their normal work pattern.
Are Shops and Businesses Closed on Public Holidays in Italy?
Not every private business closes on every Italian public holiday. Shops, restaurants, attractions and transport services may remain open or operate reduced schedules, particularly in tourist areas.
Government offices, schools, banks and private workplaces may follow different operational arrangements, so opening hours should be checked directly when planning around a holiday.
Are Public Holidays Paid in Italy?
Italian employment rules recognize statutory holidays for remuneration purposes. The Ministry of Labour's 2026–2028 employment framework lists the recognized festive days and provides rules for work performed on holidays.
The exact entitlement can depend on the employment relationship and applicable collective agreement, particularly where an employee works on the holiday or the holiday coincides with a weekly rest day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nationwide public holiday dates are listed for Italy in 2026?
The verified VisaBoards dataset contains 13 nationwide holiday dates for Italy in 2026. This includes Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and the newly established Saint Francis of Assisi holiday, while local patron-saint holidays are excluded.
What is the next public holiday in Italy?
The next public holiday changes during the year. The live VisaBoards section near the top of this page displays the next upcoming holiday using the current holiday database.
What is Italy's country code?
Italy's ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code is IT.
Is October 4 a public holiday in Italy in 2026?
Yes. Law No. 151 of October 8, 2025 established October 4 as the national holiday of Saint Francis of Assisi. The law entered into force on January 1, 2026.
Is 2026 the first year of the new Saint Francis holiday?
Yes. The legislation establishing the national holiday took effect on January 1, 2026, making October 4, 2026 the first occurrence under the restored nationwide holiday framework.
Does October 4, 2026 move to Monday because it falls on Sunday?
No general substitute Monday has been established. The statutory national holiday remains Sunday, October 4, 2026.
When is Easter in Italy in 2026?
Easter Sunday falls on April 5, 2026, followed by Easter Monday on April 6.
Does Italy move public holidays that fall on weekends?
Not generally. National holidays normally remain on their statutory dates even when they fall on Saturday or Sunday. Employment rules may separately address compensation when a holiday coincides with a worker's weekly rest day.
Are local patron-saint holidays national holidays in Italy?
No. Patron-saint holidays apply according to the municipality where work is performed. Rome's Saints Peter and Paul holiday and Milan's Saint Ambrose holiday are examples of local rather than nationwide holidays.
Is December 7 a public holiday throughout Italy?
No. December 7 is Saint Ambrose's feast day and is associated with Milan, but it is not a nationwide Italian public holiday. The nationwide Immaculate Conception holiday falls on December 8.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Italy
- Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies — Employment Rules and Recognized Holidays 2026–2028
- Normattiva — Law No. 151 of October 8, 2025 Establishing the Saint Francis of Assisi National Holiday
- Normattiva — Law No. 260 of May 27, 1949 on National Festive Occasions
- Italian Ministry of Culture — Easter and Easter Monday 2026
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