Top 12 Festivals in Italy in 2025
Italians are known for enthusiastically celebrating every moment of their lives, making their festival celebrations a must-see for visitors. From colorful processions to feasts of nature, contests among different neighborhoods, and spellbinding fireworks, these festivals offer a glimpse into the vibrant culture of Italy. We have chosen a list of Italian festivals to help you witness the magic of Italy come alive!
Venice Carnival
The Venice Carnival will be held in January or February. In 2025 is from January 27 to February 13. It is a festival to celebrate the Venice Republic's victory in 1162. Venice's streets will turn into a vision feast of Venetian culture during the carnival.
There are various popular events like masquerades and theme parties with specific content. The costumes are in seventeenth-century Venetian style with gorgeous masks that can be easily rented from street stands.
Vinitaly
In 2025, Vinitaly will be held from April 6th to April 9th, an annual wine fair that showcases global wine sectors. The festival usually lasts for four days, with the first two being lively and the last two providing a tranquil wine-tasting experience.
The highlight of Vinitaly is undoubtedly the wine-tasting sessions. With dazzling choices of wines from different regions and countries, visitors can indulge in their favorite wines or discover new ones. Don't miss out on culinary shops with talented chefs. Combining gastronomy with wine can create a unique flavor experience beyond your imagination.
Wine Tasting
The Game of the Bridge
Speaking of the beautiful city of Pisa, the first thing that comes to people's minds is the Leaning Tower. In fact, the city has much more to explore. One of the events that represent the spirit of Pisa is the Game of the Bridge.
The festival takes place in June and falls on the 29th of June in 2025. It is a competition starting from each side of the bridge on the central Ponte di Mezzo, where two teams of competitors push an iron trolley using only the force of their legs and necks. The highlight of the event starts at night and begins with the historical procession. As a tradition, municipal palaces will be adorned with decorations. Making it both fun and visually stunning to witness.
Lemon Festival
Every mid-May, villages in Monterosso become adorned with a lemony yellow hue with the fresh scent of lemons. This is the time that lemons are at the peak of their ripening season, and the most brilliant event of the season-Lemon festival will take place.
Visit Monterosso on May 18th, 2025, an open-air market that offers a variety of goods dedicated to lemons and surprises tourists with the juiciness and freshness of those yellow diamonds. Store owners also decorate their stores with lemon themes. The big finale is at night when they announce the best displays and the biggest lemon.
Infiorata Festival
The word "infiorata" means "decorate with flowers," and it's exactly how the festival is celebrated, with grand processions featuring marching bands, food, and celebrations in towns across the country.
One of the best ceremonies that could be observed in Noto (Sicily) begins on the 17th of May in 2025, where you can see the flower carpet covering the whole street of Via Corrado Nicolaci. Another famous destination is Genzano (Lazio). Its flower carpet tradition, which dates back to 1778, can be seen on the 8th of June, 2025. In the small town of Genzano (Lazio) will take place on June 29 in 2025, the scenery of the Corpus Domini procession passing through the colorful flower displays is another happening you can't miss.
The word "infiorata" means "decorate with flowers."
Palio of Siena
Boasting ancient traditions, Palio of Siena is one of Tuscany's beloved summer events that takes you back to the medieval Itlay.
The Palio of Siena is a four-day festival held twice a year so you can choose your arrival time between July 2nd and August 16th in 2025 to start your journey. Head to Piazza del Campo with sun protection and something to drink, where you will see Jockeys and horses representing each contrade dressed up in matching colors. Besides the race, there are also colorful historical parades, church services, and delicious Italian cuisine for a memorable experience.
Oh bej! Oh bej! Christmas Fair
You might wonder what "Oh bej! Oh bej!" means. The term is actually the Milanese dialect for "Oh so nice! Oh so nice!" and it's the name of a Christmas festival.
"Oh bej! Oh bej!" is a popular event during Sant'Ambrogio Week. It continues for four days starting on December 6th, 2025. The crowded and lively market is filled with florists, artists, and other traders selling various goods. Making it the ideal place for purchasing Christmas decorations and winter delicacies. On a snowy day, stroll around the market with a hot drink in your hands and immerse yourself in the warm light and dessert aroma.
La Quintana Palio
La Quintana Palio in Ascoli Piceno offers traditional Italian festivities including horse races, knight battles, and historical parades, transporting you back to the medieval age.
You will find knights in armor and bands playing trumpets and drums. After the parade, the remaining crowd will continue celebrating in the jousting field. The race is always an energetic show, with racers gathering momentum as they thunder through tracks. When dusk comes, another lively musical procession comes to life and moves deeper into the old quarter. You can still enjoy the rest of the night by dining outdoors and catching glimpses of the fireworks in the sky. Plan your visit between July 6th to August 31st to see it in 2025.
Regatta Festival
One of the most Italian traditional festivals celebrated is the regatta in Venice. Instead of sailboats, participants in the regatta row Gondolas - flat-bottomed traditional Venetian boats.
On the first Sunday of September, the annual regatta takes place. In 2025, it falls on September 7th. It starts with a parade of multicolored sixteenth-century gondolas carrying people in costumes. Line-up boats are kept in position by a rope called "spagheto" before entering the Grand Canal. After the turning point is the highlight of the regatta, called "Campioni su Gondolini," where a series of gondolas fly down the canal to the finish line. During your visit, you are welcome to rent empty gondolas to watch and photograph the fascinating parade closely.
Gondolas in Venice
Battle of Oranges
Battle of Oranges is the main celebration of the Carnival of Ivrea, miming a medieval setting of rebellion. After centuries, people in Ivrea still celebrate this historic event with oranges instead of swords. The next battle is scheduled for from March 2 to March 4. 2025.
Every year, a woman is chosen as the miller's daughter, the hero of the story, to lead the festival. The festival begins after the traditional activities, such as officials swearing in and ritual bean tasting. The Battle of Oranges starts, in which people throw oranges at masked villains carried by the wagons. We recommend you wear a hat that prevents you from being thrown at if you want to join in the crowd. However, if you want to stay clean, you can just watch the thrilling battle from a distance.
Festa del Redentore
Festa del Redentore celebrates the end of the plague of the 16th century. Traditionally, it takes place on the third weekend in July, which begins on July 20th, 2025.
As a prelude for the night, Venetians decorate their boats with garlands and prepare food. Visiting a city at this time offers you an opportunity to see the city in a different way. Just board a boat party and enjoy the grand celebration like the locals do. Visitors can also come to Bacino S. Marco to admire the breathtaking fireworks display. In the evening, people will come to Bacino S. Marco in their boats and wait for the fireworks show while sharing food with each other. You can feel the city immersed in the festive atmosphere.
Easter Processions
As a significant part of Italian religious culture, Easter week is celebrated in various ways with great enthusiasm and excitement. Visiting Italy during Easter week is a perfect chance to embrace Italian culture and customs.
Starting on Palm Sunday( April 20th, 2025), parades and processions are held throughout the week in every town in Italy, with wooden statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary being the main focus of the processions. People will dress in different colored robes and carry olive branches. Chieti holds the procession with hundreds of musicians playing the heartbreaking Miserere. In Sorrento, you can experience both Black Procession and White Procession. In the small village of Barile, people put on stages of the Passion of Jesus mixed with characters in local folklore.
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