by InTrieste
Italy will have 12 national public holidays starting in 2026, following a vote by the Italian parliament to reinstate a day off in honor of one of the country’s patron saints, Francis of Assisi. The restored holiday, abolished in 1977 for economic reasons, coincides with the feast day of San Francesco on October 4.
In addition to school and office closures, the Italian government plans cultural initiatives highlighting the values associated with St. Francis, including peace, fraternity, inclusion, and environmental protection.
This year, October 4 falls on a Sunday, meaning workers and students will not immediately see a change. The holiday will result in a long weekend in 2027.
The reinstatement marks the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s death and brings Italy’s total number of national public holidays to 12. Alongside the holiday honoring St. Francis, Italy observes Christmas, New Year’s Day, Easter, Epiphany on January 6, Liberation Day on April 25, Labour Day on May 1, Republic Day on June 2, Ferragosto on August 15, All Saints’ Day on November 1, and the Immaculate Conception on December 8.
