Italy’s Christmas holidays in 2026 line up rather neatly for anyone hoping to stretch a few annual leave days into a proper pause.
Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December, New Year’s Day also lands on a Friday, and Epiphany follows on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
For employees working Monday to Friday, that means two built-in three-day weekends. Taking leave on 28, 29, 30 and 31 December creates a 10-day break ending on Sunday 3 January. Adding Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 January extends the time off to 13 consecutive days, through Epiphany.
Italy’s Christmas and New Year public holidays in 2026/27
The key Italian public holidays over the festive period are:
- Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026
- Boxing Day: Saturday 26 December 2026
- New Year’s Day: Friday 1 January 2027
- Epiphany: Wednesday 6 January 2027
Christmas and New Year each create a three-day weekend for many people working a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule. Epiphany falls midweek, making it possible to continue the break into the first week of January.
How six days of annual leave can create 13 days off
The 2026/27 festive calendar makes it relatively simple to arrange a longer break.
Taking annual leave between Monday 28 December and Thursday 31 December gives workers 10 days away from work, covering Friday 25 December through Sunday 3 January.
Using two additional leave days on Monday 4 January and Tuesday 5 January creates a 13-day break, running from Christmas Day through Epiphany on Wednesday 6 January.
School Christmas holidays across Italy
Christmas school holidays in Italy generally last around two weeks, although dates are decided regionally and individual schools may make further adjustments.
In Lazio, Piedmont and Umbria, classes are suspended from 23 December 2026 until 6 January 2027. Pupils return to school on Thursday 7 January.
In Lombardy, the regional calendar lists school holidays on:
- 23–31 December 2026
- 2–5 January 2027
New Year’s Day and Epiphany sit within that period as public holidays.
Festive breaks in Italy: snow, lights and Christmas markets
There is plenty happening in Italy over the festive period, and the extended 2026 Christmas break leaves room for a few different sorts of trips.
Snow holidays and mountain resorts
The Italian mountains remain a straightforward option for a few days of snow. Top winter destinations for a Christmas holiday in the mountains include Merano, Livigno, Bormio, Madonna di Campiglio, Cervinia and Courmayeur.
For skiing fans, resorts in the Dolomites, Aosta Valley, Lombardy, Piedmont and the Apennines offer differences in atmosphere, price and scale.
Christmas lights and Italian traditions
For a festive trip without heading to a ski resort, Italy’s seasonal light displays provide a different focus.
- In Gubbio, the Christmas tree is installed high on the hillside above the town. It is described as the largest Christmas tree in the world.
- In Manarola, one of the Cinque Terre villages, the illuminated Nativity scene uses the terraces for large statues and thousands of coloured lights.
Booking around Italy’s festive peak
The period between Christmas and New Year is busy for travel. Ski resorts and large cities tend to fill quickly, while train and flight prices for the days immediately before 25 December can rise closer to departure. Travelling on weekdays, leaving just after Christmas or returning after Epiphany can provide more choice.
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Source: https://www.idealista.it/