How Public Holidays Work in Italy
Public holidays in Italy are defined by national law. There are 12 official public holidays that apply nationwide, though some regions or cities may observe additional local patron saint days.
2026 Holiday Calendar
Local patron saint days may be recognized in specific cities or regions (e.g., Sant'Ambrogio in Milan). These are negotiated in CCNL agreements.
Italy Holidays
How Public Holidays Work in Italy
Public holidays in Italy are defined by national law. There are 12 official public holidays that apply nationwide, though some regions or cities may observe additional local patron saint days.
12 holidays officially recognized nationwide, including religious (e.g., Christmas, Easter) and civil holidays (e.g., Republic Day, Liberation Day).
Local patron saint days may be recognized in specific cities or regions (e.g., Sant'Ambrogio in Milan). These are negotiated in CCNL agreements.
If a public holiday falls on a weekend, it is generally lost with no substitute day, unless specific CCNL agreements provide otherwise.
Italy
New Year's Day
Capodanno marks the start of the new year and is a nationwide paid day off, preceded by the San Silvestro celebrations on New Year's Eve.
Epiphany
Epifania closes the Christmas season on 6 January, associated with the Befana who brings sweets or coal to children across Italy.
Easter Monday
Lunedì dell'Angelo, popularly called Pasquetta, follows Easter Sunday and is traditionally spent on outings or picnics with family and friends.
Liberation Day
Festa della Liberazione commemorates the liberation of Italy from fascism and Nazi occupation at the end of World War II on 25 April 1945.
Labour Day
Festa dei Lavoratori celebrates workers and the labour movement on 1 May, marked nationwide by concerts, rallies and trade union events.
Republic Day
Festa della Repubblica celebrates the birth of the Italian Republic following the constitutional referendum of 2 June 1946, marked by a military parade in Rome.
Ferragosto
Ferragosto, the Assumption of Mary on 15 August, is a major summer holiday when many businesses close and Italians traditionally take their vacation.
Christmas Day
Natale is the central Christian and family holiday on 25 December, followed by the additional public holiday of Santo Stefano on 26 December.
Public holidays in Italy, explained
Italy recognises a set of national public holidays (giorni festivi) that apply to every employee regardless of sector: Capodanno (1 January), Epifania (6 January), Easter Monday, Liberation Day (25 April), Labour Day (1 May), Republic Day (2 June), Ferragosto (15 August), All Saints' Day (1 November), the Immaculate Conception (8 December), Christmas (25 December) and Santo Stefano (26 December). Together with Easter Sunday, which usually falls on a weekend, this gives the familiar figure of around 12 festivi observed across the country each year.
What makes the Italian calendar distinctive is the festa del santo patrono, the local patron saint's day. Every town has one, and it is a genuine public holiday only in that municipality. Milan closes on 7 December for Sant'Ambrogio, Rome on 29 June for Santi Pietro e Paolo, Naples on 19 September for San Gennaro, Florence, Genoa and Turin on 24 June for San Giovanni, and Venice, Palermo and Bari observe their own patrons. Employers with sites in several cities therefore juggle different local calendars on top of the shared national list.
A holiday that lands on a Saturday or Sunday is generally lost, with no substitute day granted unless a specific CCNL provides otherwise. Because so many Italian holidays sit on fixed dates, the real number of days off varies from year to year, and employees watch for years where a festivo falls midweek so they can fare il ponte and bridge to the weekend with a single day of leave.
For payroll, festivi are paid non-working days, and work performed on them normally attracts a premium set by the applicable CCNL, commonly around 100 percent. Patron saint days must be configured per location so that leave balances, premium pay and attendance are calculated correctly. Teams operating across multiple Italian municipalities cannot rely on one national calendar alone.
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Impact on Payroll & Leave
Public holidays in Italy affect payroll through mandatory paid time off and premium pay for holiday work.
Learn more about ItalyPremium pay (typically 100%) for work performed on public holidays per CCNL.
Mandatory daily and weekly rest periods must be respected and compensated.
Impact on leave balance and TFR accrual calculations.
Local patron saint days may apply in certain municipalities.
Are public holidays paid days off in Italy?
Yes, public holidays are paid non-working days for employees. If work is required, premium pay applies per CCNL.
What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend?
The holiday is generally lost with no substitute day, unless the applicable CCNL provides otherwise.
Can annual leave be carried over to the next year?
Yes, but it must generally be used within 18 months of accrual. At least 2 weeks must be taken in the year earned.
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Stop manually tracking holidays. Leavo automatically applies the correct calendar to each employee based on their location.
Start Free TrialDisclaimer: This information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult official government sources and legal counsel for compliance matters.