Close-up of a person wearing an ornate white, gold, and red Venetian-style carnival mask and a vibrant red costume.

Rome Newsletter - February 2026

February in Rome is a month of vivid contrasts, where the quiet of late winter meets the vibrant energy of upcoming festivities. It is an excellent time to experience the city at a more human pace, enjoying the local atmosphere as it shifts from the calm of winter toward the stirring of the springtime.

Newsletter • 3 min. read

The headline event this month is undoubtedly the return of the Carnival of Rome. Celebrations ripple through the city, featuring street performances and costumes that recall centuries of Roman tradition. The festivities culminate on February 17th (Martedì Grasso) along the famous Via del Corso, which hosts a spectacular parade featuring over 100 horses and carriages—a nod to the street's origins as a horse racing track. Visiting Rome in February also requires a taste of seasonal sweetness; we highly recommend stopping at a local bakery to try frappe (crispy fried dough strips) or castagnole (soft, sugar-coated dough balls), treats that are celebrated only during the Carnival season.

If you wish to learn more about the history beneath your feet, we are always here to show you around on one of our walking tours!

Date	Event	Category
February 1-28	Opera, concerts and music shows in Rome in February 2026 Enjoy performances and classical music in many of Rome's stunning churches and beautiful palaces! Let yourself be overwhelmed by the magic of the most romantic music pieces on Valentine's Day Piano Love concert in St. Paul Within The Walls - church at Via Nazionale or admire the majestic romantic ballet La Bayadère from 3 to 8 February, as part of the Doppio Sogno season, on the stage of the Teatro Costanzi in Benjamin Pech's choreography, created in 2023 for the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. More info of the music events of Rome in February:	📅 Other	More details →
February 18	Mercoledì delle Ceneri (Ash Wednesday) National holiday in Italy marks the start of Lent and features major liturgical events.	🎄 Holiday
February 12-17	Carnival Join Rome's Carneval Celebrations taking place in mid-February, leading up to Martedì Grasso (Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday) 17.2. with major parade at Via del Corso. Rome celebrates with street performances, colourful costumes, music, and family-friendly events across the city in central squares like Piazza Navona, Piazza del Poplo and Campo dei Fiori. Don't forget to try traditional treats like frappe or castagnole! More info about Roman carneval traditions:	🎪 Festival	More details →
February 19-22	XIII International Festival of Folklore, Choirs & Orchestras Experience international folklore performances, traditional choirs, and orchestras from around the world celebrating cultural heritage at this prestigious festival held near the Colosseum.	🎪 Festival	More details →
February 1	Changes to access Trevi fountain and the free admission museums starting from 1st of February Changes are introduced to the terms of entering free civic- and national museums for tourists and non-residents of Rome starting from 1.2.2026, including a 2€ fee to go down the Trevi fountain.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
February 1-28	Major art exhibitions in Rome in February 2026 Enjoy the art exhibitions available in Rome in February 2026, like Alphons Mucha's exhibition in Palazzo Bonaparte until 8.2. or Impressionist collection from Detroit Institute of Arts in Museo Ara Pacis. Check the exhibitions here:	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
February 2-28	Major sport events in Rome in February 2026 Reserve your spot when Italy's national rugby team plays a home match against Scotland as part of the Guinness Six Nations tournament or join Serie A football matches at Stadio Olimpico! More info of the sport events:	⚽ Sport	More details →

Did you know that Rome is one of Europe’s greenest capitals? While the Eternal City is rightly celebrated for its ancient heart, picturesque cobblestone streets, grandiose baroque fountains and lively piazzas, beyond the famous monuments and bustling hotspots lies another side of the Eternal City — Rome that is greener, quieter, and unexpectedly spacious. Here, grand aristocratic villa gardens stretch beneath umbrella pines, panoramic hilltops open onto sweeping views, and ancient roads wind through wildflower-filled meadows dotted with crumbling tombs. From the manicured elegance of Villa Borghese to the fragrant rose and citrus gardens of the Aventine Hill; from the breathtaking terraces of Gianicolo and Monte Mario to the timeless, history-steeped paths of the Appia Antica Regional Park, Rome reveals a softer, more relaxed rhythm of local life, where history escapes the confines of museum walls — it rises from the grass beneath your feet, frames the horizon at sunset, and lines the paths where Romans jog, picnic and gather with family.

St. Peter's Basilica dome and facade under a blue sky, with an obelisk and crowds of people in St. Peter's Square.

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