The Christmas market at a glance
The Piazza Navona hosts a winter fair that people in Rome call the Festa di Piazza Navona. Stalls and a carousel fill part of the long oval of the square, and the festival runs to the Befana on 6 January, the day the Italian folk figure of the Befana is celebrated. It is a seasonal event on a public square, so you can walk through without a ticket. The stalls and rides are a separate matter: you pay for what you buy or use.
This is an independent guide. It is not run by the city, the stallholders or any organiser. Use the previous season below as a guide to the rhythm, and check the current dates for 2026/27 shortly before you travel.
Dates: last season and what to do now
Use the previous year as a rough guide, not as a promise.
| Item | Last season (2025/26) | 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Festival period | 1 December 2025 to 6 January 2026 | Check the dates shortly before you go |
| Befana on 6 January | The planned firefighter abseil was cancelled because of an orange weather warning | Check the programme closer to the day |
| Stalls | Handmade nativity scenes, handcrafted decorations, wooden toys | Range varies from year to year |
| Programme | Workshops, music, entertainment | Check the programme closer to the date |
Do not plan around a start on 1 December as a fixed date. The previous season is a useful pattern, but each year has its own schedule. If you travel in the weeks around Christmas, look for the current dates a few days before you leave.
What you find on the square
The mix last season.
Nativity scenes and decorations
Last season the festival featured handmade nativity scenes and handcrafted decorations. These are the stalls to look for if you want something to take home.
Wooden toys
Wooden toys were part of the mix, so the stalls suit small gifts.
Workshops, music and entertainment
The programme included workshops, music and entertainment. If a time matters to you, look at the current schedule on the day, because the programme changes.
The carousel
The market has a carousel. Ride prices change from year to year, so look at the price on the day.
Food and drink
For a proper meal, the cafés around the square and the lanes behind it are your options. Our eating guide explains how Lazio rules treat the coperto and service charge.
Tours around Piazza Navona in winter
Walks through the Baroque centre, evening routes and food tours that pass the square.
The Befana on 6 January
The last day of the festival.
What the Befana is
La Befana is an Italian folk figure linked to Epiphany on 6 January. The Piazza Navona marks the end of the festive season with a programme on that day.
Weather can change the programme
On 6 January 2026 the planned firefighter abseil was cancelled because of an orange weather warning. A traditional act is not guaranteed in bad weather. For 2027, check the programme closer to the date.
Glass containers
For the turn of the year 2025/26 and for 5 and 6 January, the sale of food and drink in glass containers was banned in set time windows. The rules for this year may differ, so look at signs and local notices.
Getting there and what to bring
Practical points for a winter visit.
By bus
Lines 30, 70, 81, 87, 492 and 628 serve the Corso Rinascimento next to the square. Check the direction and current departures before you ride. A single BIT ticket costs €1.50 and lasts 100 minutes (2026).
All routes and fares →By car
The Centro Storico is a restricted traffic zone. For unauthorised vehicles it applies Monday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with holidays excluded. Friday and Saturday nights from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. are also covered. A parking permit is not the same as permission to drive in.
Weather
In the long-term climate figures, December in Rome has highs around 12.6 °C, lows around 4.2 °C and about 81 mm of rain. Bring a rain jacket and shoes that cope with wet paving.
Water
The public drinking fountains known as nasoni supply drinking water, so a refillable bottle works. Do not drink from the monumental fountain basins on the square.
Combine the market with
Places within walking distance.
Fountain of the Four Rivers
Bernini's centrepiece in the middle of the square.
Campo de' Fiori
The market square a short walk away.
Eating near the square
How to read menus and charges.
For the Pantheon, which is close to the Piazza Navona, see our sister guide to the Pantheon. If you plan a longer stay, the page on where to stay compares areas of the Centro Storico.
Piazza Navona Christmas market: frequently asked questions
When is the Christmas market on the Piazza Navona?
Last season it ran from 1 December 2025 to 6 January 2026. Dates for 2026/27 can differ, so check the current dates shortly before you go.
Is entry to the market free?
Yes, the square is a public space and walking through costs nothing. You pay for what you buy at the stalls and for rides such as the carousel.
What can I buy at the stalls?
Last season the stalls offered handmade nativity scenes, handcrafted decorations and wooden toys, along with workshops, music and entertainment. The range changes every year.
What happens on 6 January?
The festival ends with the Befana celebrations. In 2026 the planned firefighter abseil was cancelled because of an orange weather warning, so a special act depends on the weather.
What is the best time to visit?
That is a matter of taste. Plan the visit around the programme and the weather, and combine the square with the nearby Via dei Coronari.