Rome Newsletter - January 2026

Welcome to January in Rome! The holidays might be over, but the Eternal City keeps sparkling with festive energy. Crisp winter air makes exploring the ancient streets even more magical. Get ready for a month packed with music, art, and unique Roman experiences to kick off 2026.

Start your New Year with a bang! Rome normally welcomes 2026 with incredible midnight fireworks around the Colosseum area and Via dei Fori Imperiali. You'll find free outdoor concerts in major squares too. For a city-organised event, Rome’s municipality typically runs an official New Year programme. Arrive early for the best spots!

Music lovers have a treat in store! The Rome Opera House on Piazza Beniamino Gigli 7 presents a full schedule of opera and ballet. Or, consider the Accademia di Santa Cecilia’s symphony and chamber concerts at Auditorium Parco della Musica, Viale Pietro de Coubertin 30. You can also catch many intimate performances like "La Traviata" at All Saints’ Anglican Church.

Families especialy enjoy the continued festive spirit. Until Epiphany, explore the Family Nativity Trail, with elaborate nativity scenes across Roman churches. Santa Maria in Aracoeli is a great starting point. On January 6th, celebrate La Befana at Piazza Navona, where gift-bringing witches fill the square with sweets and toys.

January in Rome offers a wonderful blend of tradition and excitement, making for an unforgettable start to 2026. We can't wait to see you exploring!

Date	Event	Category
January 1-31	Ice-Skating Rinks and Winter Parks in Rome Temporary outdoor ice rinks and winter-themed parks often operate in Rome’s suburbs and shopping districts through January. Tourists travelling with children can look for seasonal rinks near EUR, Auditorium Parco della Musica, or major malls, usually open afternoons and evenings.	📅 Other	More details →
January 1-6	Family Nativity Trail – Presepi in Roman Churches Until Epiphany, many Roman churches display elaborate nativity scenes, some mechanical or themed. Families can build a self-guided route including Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Santa Maria Maggiore, and other historic churches, combining sightseeing with a seasonal tradition.	📅 Other	More details →
January 1-31	Paint and Sip – Art Aperitivo in Rome Guided painting session combined with Italian wine, cheeses, prosciutto and finger food, perfect for couples or friends wanting a cosy indoor evening activity. Events usually take place on selected evenings; ticket price includes canvas, paints, teacher and aperitivo, with advance booking recommended.	📅 Other	More details →
January 2	La Traviata in Concert at All Saints’ Anglican Church An abridged version of Verdi’s La Traviata in concert form, with soloists and piano in a small historic church, ideal for first‑time opera goers.	📅 Other	More details →
January 5	Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – The Musical Family‑friendly musical based on the classic Christmas tale at Teatro Parioli.	📅 Other	More details →
January 14	We Call It Cabaret: Dracula Dance Show by Moonlight Cabaret‑style reinterpretation of Dracula at Teatro Ghione, combining dance, theatre and Gothic storytelling in a one‑hour evening performance.	📅 Other	More details →
January 19	We Call It Ballet – Sleeping Beauty Contemporary take on Sleeping Beauty in Rome, with five dancers in fluorescent costumes and creative lighting, ideal if you like dance plus visual effects.	📅 Other	More details →
December 31 - January 1	Capodanno – City-Organised New Year’s Events Rome’s municipality typically runs an official New Year programme with concerts, performances, and light installations along Via dei Fori Imperiali and central areas. Tourists can expect crowd-control barriers, security checks, and free entry, with events starting late evening and culminating in midnight celebrations.	🎪 Festival	More details →
January 1-31	Rome Opera House – January 2026 Winter Opera and Ballet Season Teatro dell’Opera di Roma on Piazza Beniamino Gigli 7 normally runs a full schedule of opera and ballet in January. Visitors can book tickets in advance for classic Italian operas and symphonic concerts inside the historic theatre near Piazza Repubblica.	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 1-31	Accademia di Santa Cecilia – Symphonic Concerts at Auditorium Parco della Musica In January, the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia usually offers weekly symphony and chamber concerts at Auditorium Parco della Musica, Viale Pietro de Coubertin 30. Tourists interested in classical music can combine an evening performance with visiting Renzo Piano’s striking modern concert complex.	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 1	New Year’s Opera Concert at Methodist Church of Ponte Sant’Angelo Festive opera arias and duets in an intimate church near Castel Sant’Angelo, perfect if you want a refined start to the year in central Rome.	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 1	New Year’s Concert at All Saints’ Anglican Church A classical New Year programme in a Neo‑Gothic church just off Via del Corso, mixing famous arias and instrumental pieces.	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 6-8	Freddie Mercury Opera Show A crossover show where Queen songs meet opera style, staged by Opera da Camera di Roma, great if you enjoy rock anthems with a classical twist.	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 7	The Three Tenors in Concert Three Italian tenors perform popular opera hits and Neapolitan songs at All Saints’ Anglican Church, a good option if you want the “greatest hits” of opera.	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 8	A Night with Henry Mancini – Film Music Jazz Concert Live tribute to Henry Mancini at Elegance Cafè Jazz Club, Via Francesco Carletti 5, with four Roman jazz musicians performing themes like Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Pink Panther. Concert runs 21:30–23:30; drink‑and‑concert formula from about €25, or book a dinner table where the concert is included with two courses.	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 9	The Four Seasons by Vivaldi at All Saints’ Anglican Church String ensemble performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in a small central church, convenient if you are staying near Piazza di Spagna or Via Veneto.	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 13	Portrait of Sinatra – Dinner Show at Elegance Cafè Jazz Club Live jazz tribute to Frank Sinatra at Elegance Cafè, Via Francesco Carletti 5, combining à la carte dinner with swing standards in a club setting. Drink & Concert formula advertised at €25, or concert included with two dinner courses.	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 2-31	Candlelight Concerts String ensemble plays rock and pop hits from artists like ABBA, Queen and Coldplay surrounded by hundreds of candles, usually hosted in central locations like Palazzo Ripetta, Ghione Theater or Boscolo Circo Massimo. Great for those enjoying popular music in an atmospheric ambiance!	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 24	PATRIARKH, Arkona & Halls Concert at Traffic Live Club On Saturday, 24 January 2026, metal band Patriarkh plays Traffic Live Club in Rome, supported by Arkona and Halls. The show starts at 19:00, giving visitors a chance to experience Rome’s live rock scene in a local club setting.	🎵 Concert	More details →
January 1-31	January Exhibitions at the Colosseum Archaeological Park In January, the Colosseum Archaeological Park usually hosts temporary exhibitions on ancient Rome inside or near the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Tourists visiting the monuments can typically access these exhibitions with the same combined ticket, enriching their understanding of gladiators, architecture, or imperial history.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
January 1-31	Winter Exhibitions at Capitoline Museums Musei Capitolini on Piazza del Campidoglio 1 often run major temporary art or archaeology exhibitions through the winter months. January visitors can explore these shows alongside the permanent collections of Roman statues, inscriptions, and paintings overlooking the Forum.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
January 1-31	Titanic – Immersive Experience in Rome Immersive exhibition recreating Titanic’s interiors with multimedia installations, allowing visitors to walk through reconstructed spaces and learn stories of passengers. Open on multiple days in January with timed entry; standard and reduced tickets available, with family options posted on the booking page.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
January 3-29	AS Roma and SS Lazio Home Football Matchdays at Stadio Olimpico (Serie A, January 2026) During January, AS Roma plays Serie A home matches at Stadio Olimpico, Viale dei Gladiatori 6. Visitors can buy tickets in advance and experience Italian football culture, fan chants, and stadium atmosphere in Rome’s main sports arena.	⚽ Sport	More details →
January 1	Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Torch Relay in Rome See the Olympic flame during its relay start in Rome at Fiumicino Airport. Tourists witness a ceremonial event kicking off Italy's Winter Games. Unique photo opportunity with historic flair.	⚽ Sport	More details →
January 1	Run Rome The Marathon 2026 Join or watch runners race through Rome's historic streets. Tourists love the scenic route past Colosseum and Vatican. Ideal for active visitors combining sport with sightseeing.	⚽ Sport	More details →
December 1 - January 6	Christmas Market at Piazza Navona Rome’s best-known seasonal market usually runs in Piazza Navona through early January, closing around Epiphany. Tourists find stands with nativity figurines, ornaments, sweets, children’s rides, and street performers in the main baroque square of the historical center.	🛍️ Market	More details →
January 6	La Befana at Piazza Navona – Epiphany Market and Festivities Around Epiphany, Piazza Navona traditionally hosts stalls selling toys, sweets, and decorations linked to La Befana, the Italian gift-bringing witch. Families visit to buy stockings, taste seasonal treats, and see costumed Befana characters in the square.	🛍️ Market	More details →
December 31 - January 1	New Year’s Eve in Rome – Fireworks at Colosseum and City Squares Rome normally welcomes the New Year with midnight fireworks around the Colosseum area, Via dei Fori Imperiali, and major squares, plus free outdoor concerts. Tourists can usually join large public celebrations near the Colosseo and Circo Massimo, with music and light shows extending past midnight into the early hours of 1 January.	📅 Other	More details →
January 6	Epiphany Celebration at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City On 6 January, the Vatican marks the Epiphany with a solemn Papal Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, drawing pilgrims and visitors from around the world. Tourists can attend with free but pre-booked tickets, and enjoy the nativity scenes and Christmas decorations still on display in St. Peter’s Square.	📅 Other	More details →
January 17-19	Neon Brush – Glow-in-the-Dark Painting Experience UV-lit painting workshop at Moderno Hotel Roma, Via Magenta 2, where you create fluorescent art to take home, with music and a retro-futuristic vibe (ages 18+). Sessions typically run in the evening; tickets are required in advance and include all materials, with bar service on site.	📅 Other	More details →