A Guide To The Best Events In January 2026 In Rome

Discovering the best things to do in Rome in January

Get ready to kick off the new year in style… Rome offers a series of exciting events in January 2026. Here’s our list of the best happenings in the city, promising a January filled with enchanting experiences for those who choose to experience the magic of Rome in the first month of the year.

Exhibitions this January in Rome

Mark on your calendar both the ongoing and brand-new art shows in Rome in January 2026.

The Historic Infantry Museum has two shows, one showcasing works by Gauguin and the other dedicated to Picasso. Other highlights include the extensive Alphonse Mucha retrospective at Palazzo Bonaparte, two exhibitions at Castel Sant’Angelo, and “Treasures of the Pharaohs” at the Scuderie del Quirinale.

For contemporary art lovers, these are the last days to see the Flowers exhibition at Chiostro del Bramante, which runs only until January 18, 2026. Also running through January, Palazzo delle Esposizioni hosts the Quadriennale d’Arte, a major exhibition dedicated to contemporary Italian art.

Not to be missed at Palazzo Cipolla, Dalí. Revolution and Tradition, the exhibition that puts Dalí’s surrealism center stage, bringing to Rome over sixty works, including paintings, drawings, documents, and audiovisual materials, by one of the twentieth century’s towering masters.

Rome’s Ara Pacis Museum presents Impressionism and Beyond. Masterpieces from the Detroit Institute of Arts, featuring works by Courbet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Modigliani, Kandinsky, Beckmann, and many more. At the Capitoline Museums, Cartier and the Myth: Jewels in Dialogue with the Capitoline Masters brings some of the Maison’s most iconic creations into a striking visual conversation with the ancient marble deities of Palazzo Nuovo.

Finally, the Museo del Genio, a venue of over 4,000 square meters, has reopened to the public with two major exhibitions: one dedicated to Vivian Maier, the much-loved American photographer, and the other, Pop Air by Ugo Nespolo, showcasing the celebrated artist’s imposing sculptures.

Best events in January in Rome

Live music

In January, Rome is alive with a variety of live music concerts, spanning from opera to Italian contemporary tunes to tribute shows. Get ready for a musical journey that caters to every taste, promising a vibrant start to the year in the Eternal city.

1 January | Roma Capodarte

Rome is preparing to say goodbye to 2025 and welcome the New Year with a rich calendar of events in the name of music, art, culture and entertainment. On 1 January, Capodarte is back: over 80 free initiatives spread across various parts of the city. Concerts, guided tours, shows and activities for young and old will animate museums, municipal libraries, theatres, cinemas and other cultural venues that will be extraordinarily open for the occasion.

6 January | Closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica

On January 6, 2026 at 9.30am, St. Peter’s Basilica will hold the rite of closing the Holy Door, marking the official end of the Jubilee Year. With the door sealed, the pilgrim journey of the Holy Year formally concludes, sealing a time of grace, reconciliation, and hope for the faithful.

Until 6 January | Festa della Befana di Roma (Epiphany)

In Piazza Navona, the Festa della Befana returns, enchanting young and old with a lineup of special events. The grand finale unfolds on January 6th when the Befana arrives in Piazza Navona. The friendly witch will bring gifts and sweets for all the children. An absolute festive delight for the whole family, brimming with performances, music, and joyous celebrations.

Until 6 January | Christmas at the Auditorium

Celebrate the holiday season at the Auditorium Parco Della Musica, where Christmas magic is in full swing. In addition to the programming of pop, jazz and rock music concerts, there is the usual Rome Gospel Festival, one of the most important gospel festivals in Europe, which features some of the best ensembles from the United States. Completing the chilly Christmas vibe, performances for children and guided tours for families will guarantee fun for people of all ages.

Until 6 January | 100 Presepi in Vaticano

Depictions of the birth of Jesus Christ are found all around the world come Christmastime, but Italians have a special pride for their nativity scenes, or presepi in Italian. This is abundantly clear in this exhibit, which presents the most beautiful presepi at the Colonnade of Piazza San Pietro in the holy city of the Vatican itself. Over 300 works were nominated from different countries, of which only 100 are selected for display. Whether you’re a craftsman or just a casual observer appreciating the artistry, you’re welcome to come and see these masterpieces for yourself.

Until 11 January | Christmas World

The Christmas World at Villa Borghese is returning for another round of holiday joy. With replicas of cities around the world, musical performances, a carousel, a chocolate factory, an ice-skating rink and even a model of Santa’s house, there’s something for every member of the family. And if that wasn’t enough, each city replica will also have its own food court for your tasting pleasure. The Christmas World at Villa Borghese is open daily from 10am to 8pm.

14 – 25 January | La Boheme at Rome’s Opera House

La bohème returns to the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma in Davide Livermore’s production.
Carolina López Moreno stars as Mimì alongside a cast of leading international voices. Created in collaboration with Valencia’s Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, the staging is enriched by tableaux of French Impressionist paintings that envelop the characters like a vast atelier. Eleven performances, January 14–25.

18 January | La Corsa di Miguel

For over twenty years, La Corsa di Miguel has been one of Rome’s landmark running events: a 10K race created to honor Miguel Benancio Sánchez, an Argentine marathon runner and poet who was “disappeared” under the dictatorship, bringing memory, inclusion and civic engagement into the streets.
In 2026, alongside the historic 10K, there will also be a new 5K course: a race starting from Ponte Milvio and finishing inside the Stadio Olimpico, designed together with Sport Senza Frontiere and open to anyone who wants to take part, run together and share the values this event stands for.

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