January 6, 2026: Events & Timeline

The Epiphany arrives “which takes away all the celebrations”. First Tuesday of the year, the day in which to meet the Befana, fill your stockings with delicacies and close the holidays in the name of tradition, history and imagination.

What to do on January 6th in Rome? Between treasure hunts, historical-religious processions, shows and sweets, here are 14 events not to be missed on Epiphany day in the capital:

The Befana in Piazza Navona

It is the traditional Epiphany of the Capital, the one in Piazza Navona, among stalls, caramelized apples and the Horse Carousel. On the morning of January 6, 2026, as usual, the appointment with the arrival of the Befana is renewed, a symbolic and long-awaited event that concludes the Roman event in the name of tradition. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

Long live the Befana

The historical-religious, cultural, folkloristic procession “Viva la Befana” returns on January 6th, at 10am, in via della Conciliazione. An event to reaffirm and pass on the values ​​of the Epiphany. Like every year, historical re-enactment groups, horses, flag-wavers, musicians, musical bands, military fanfares, living nativity scenes will parade following the Three Kings who, after the Angelus, will bring the symbolic gifts to Pope Leo. There will be the traditional Befana specially created every year by the “La Sargiatella” association of Mentana. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

The sweet Befana stocking at the Central Market

On January 6th, on the second floor of the Mercato Centrale Roma, a creative workshop dedicated to the little ones will be held. Each participant will receive a kit with a large biscuit in the shape of a Befana stocking and a series of decorations: small colored biscuits, sweets and a piping bag. Children will be able to decorate and personalize their own cookie stocking by adding decorations and the name with sugar paste, thus creating a unique, creative and delicious version of the Befana stocking. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

The ChiaraStella 2026

On 5 and 6 January, exclusively for Christmas at the Auditorium, the Italian Popular Orchestra and the Popular Choir propose the ChiaraStella, an original project by Ambrogio Sparagna dedicated to popular Christmas songs that have their origins in the ancient Franciscan tradition of the Nativity scene. Starting from the example of the “Canticle of Creatures”, which found a great interpreter and poet in Francis of Assisi, whose eight hundredth anniversary of his death is celebrated this year, the show offers a series of songs taken from the rich Italian popular sacred tradition. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

The Befana at Villa Pamphilj

The Befana arrives at Villa Pamphilj. The fifth edition of the event will take place on January 6, from 10.30 to 12.30, at VIVI – Villa Pamphili. The Befana elves will welcome the little ones with their stockings still empty, awaiting his arrival. At 11am, the puppet show by the Green Theater will be staged, entitled “The Circus All of a sudden” and at 12pm, as if by magic, the Befana will make her entrance and fill the children’s stockings with sweets offered by VIVI. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

Befana treasure hunt at the Museum of vintage carriages

The Befana Treasure Hunt arrives at the Vintage Carriage Museum on January 6th. The old lady parked the broom for a nap, but the rebellious toys hid all her equipment so she wouldn’t start again. The children will be guided by a fun train conductor among the historic carriages. From Roman chariots to royal carriages, the little investigators will have to solve riddles to recover shoes, shawl and broom before the Befana opens her eyes. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

The great closure of villages and Christmas markets

January 6th is the day when all the villages and Christmas markets close. The last of the Christmas holidays which, as tradition dictates, takes away all the other holidays, the Epiphany is also the last opportunity to take a tour of the traditional wooden houses or one of the numerous themed attractions in the Christmas villages of Rome and its surroundings.

Run for the Befana 2026

“Run for the Befana” is back, the 32nd edition of the historic marathon returns to the Parco degli Acquedotti to end, as always, on via Lemonia. Appointment at 9.45 with the 10 km competitive run and the “Befana Happy Run”, a 3 km non-competitive recreational marathon in which everyone can participate. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

The Toy Race 2026

“La Corsa del Giocattolo” is back, the non-competitive foot race over a distance of 5 km. The event is now a tradition that is repeated every January 6th at Villa Borghese. Anyone can participate in the race without age limits. To register, all you need is a new or used toy in good condition; participants will be given the bib and a goody bag with the event t-shirt and other surprises. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

The Befana is coming – Policeman’s Day 2026

The event “The Befana is coming – Policeman’s Day” returns on January 6th at the Oasi Park in Rome, organized by the provincial secretariat of Rome and the provincial secretariat of Naples of Consap. Children will be the protagonists for an afternoon of free fun in the playground in via Tarquinio Collatino. The Befana will distribute hundreds of socks filled with sweets and toys to all the children present. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

Epiphany at the Casina di Raffaello

The teaching staff of Casina di Raffaello will offer families and children the opportunity to participate in creative workshops and readings on January 6th. On the programme: Epiphany of the fantastic duo – Workshop organized by the teaching staff of Casina di Raffaello, for girls and boys aged 6 to 11 and Befana to read – Readings by the teaching staff of Casina di Raffaello for girls and boys aged 4 to 11. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

OPS! 2026, contemporary circus review

The contemporary circus festival “OPS!” closes on January 6th. at the Teatro Studio Borgna, with the Collettivo Flaan with Theseus, a story set in space in which three astronauts trapped in a time loop face time, loneliness and friendship through the evocative language of contemporary circus. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

The Befana at the Jewish Ghetto. From the origins to the roundup of ’43

A walk scheduled for January 6th, to retrace the ancient streets of the Ghetto and the Sant’Angelo district through visits to the most important monuments of the Roman era and the small “jewels” of the village, such as Piazza Mattei with the Turtle Fountain and the alleys, the houses and the places of memory of the most significant events linked to the history of the Ghetto. An emotionally touching visit full of curiosities and hidden corners, which fascinates through the vestiges of ancient art, the remains of history and the written testimonies of those who were present on that gray morning of 16 October 1943. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]

La Befana among the alleys of Rome

Another walk dedicated to the Befana, but this time around Campo dei Fiori, between the streets of Pellegrino, Monserrato and dei Cappellari. Among arches and “secret” passages, Rome preserves ancient-style embellished courtyards and some of the most beautiful “Madonnelle” on the street corners. In a fifteenth-century and Renaissance city, the sounds of the market and vendors were contrasted by the elegance of noble palaces with frescoed facades and some of the most famous locations that hosted the intrigues of the much talked about Borgia family, from Alexander VI’s chancellery to the taverns of his lover Vannozza. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]