Italy has 11 national public holidays and dozens of regional patron saint days. For international teams with Italian employees, the national holidays are mandatory, but understanding regional variations — especially August (Ferragosto culture) — is critical for realistic planning.
Italy's National Public Holidays 2026
- 1 January — New Year's Day (Capodanno)
- 6 January — Epiphany (Befana)
- 5 April — Easter Sunday (Pasqua)
- 6 April — Easter Monday (Lunedì dell'Angelo / Pasquetta)
- 25 April — Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione)
- 1 May — International Labour Day (Festa del Lavoro)
- 2 June — Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica)
- 15 August — Feast of the Assumption (Ferragosto)
- 1 November — All Saints' Day (Ognissanti)
- 8 December — Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Immacolata Concezione)
- 25 December — Christmas Day (Natale)
- 26 December — St. Stephen's Day (Santo Stefano)
Ferragosto: Italy's De Facto August Shutdown
15 August is Ferragosto, but the entire second half of July through late August is effectively low-productivity. Many Italian businesses and individuals take extended vacations during this period. Teams should plan major deadlines and launches outside August.
Regional Patron Saint Holidays
Each Italian city observes its patron saint's feast day as a local public holiday. Key ones:
- 24 June — Feast of St. John the Baptist (Milan, Turin, Florence, Genoa)
- 7 December — St. Ambrose (Milan)
- 19 September — St. Januarius (Naples)
- 25 April — St. Mark (Venice)
- 29 June — Sts. Peter and Paul (Rome)
Epiphany and Easter Monday: Holidays That Catch Foreign Managers Off Guard
Epiphany (6 January) is a major holiday in Italy with a children's gift tradition (La Befana). Easter Monday (Pasquetta) is also a national holiday, often extended into a long weekend.
Managing Italian Holidays for International Teams
Account for the informal August slowdown, not just Ferragosto itself. Patron saint days affect only the relevant cities. Build these into project timelines to avoid missed deadlines.
View the full list of Italy's public holidays and add them to your Google Calendar at autolidays.com/holidays/italy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Easter Monday a public holiday in Italy?
Yes. Easter Monday (Pasquetta) is a national public holiday in Italy. Many Italians use it for outdoor gatherings and picnics, making it a true long weekend.
Do all Italian cities observe the same holidays?
Italy's 11 national holidays apply everywhere, but each city also observes its patron saint's day as a local public holiday. Rome observes 29 June, Milan observes 7 December, etc.
When is the best time to schedule calls with Italian colleagues?
Avoid the second half of July and all of August. Also avoid the week of Ferragosto (around 15 August) and Easter week. October through early December is generally the most reliable planning window.
Automate Italy's Holiday Calendar
Stop manually tracking Italian holidays. Autolidays syncs Italy's national and regional holidays directly to your Google Calendar. Visit autolidays.com/holidays/italy to get started.