by InTrieste
As thousands of residents and visitors prepare to welcome 2026 in Piazza Unità, the city of Trieste has issued two municipal ordinances aimed at regulating public safety, fireworks and alcohol consumption during the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The measures apply to the large outdoor concert and festivities scheduled for the night between December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026, in Trieste’s central square, one of the largest open-air plazas in Europe.
Under the new rules, private fireworks will be permitted across the city from 9 p.m. on December 31 until 2 a.m. on January 1. However, the use of firecrackers, explosive devices and similar items remains strictly prohibited. Officials said the measure is intended to allow traditional celebrations while limiting the risk of injuries and disturbances.
Inside Piazza Unità d’Italia, where the official New Year’s concert will take place, far stricter regulations will apply. From 8 p.m. on December 31 until 2:30 a.m. on January 1, visitors will not be allowed to bring in beverages of any kind in glass bottles or metal cans. The sale, possession and consumption of alcoholic drinks — defined as beverages with an alcohol content above 1.2 percent — will also be prohibited, regardless of the container.
City authorities have also banned a number of items considered potentially dangerous or disruptive, including umbrellas, folding chairs, selfie sticks and pepper spray. Fireworks of any kind are not permitted inside the square during the event.
The restrictions extend beyond the square itself. In the areas surrounding the concert zone, from 8 p.m. until 2:30 a.m., it will be illegal to possess or consume drinks in glass bottles or cans, as well as alcoholic beverages stronger than 6 percent alcohol, whether on public property or in private spaces open to the public.
Municipal officials said the ordinances are designed to balance celebration with public order, ensuring that large crowds can gather safely in the historic city center while reducing risks related to alcohol, broken glass and fireworks.
The New Year’s Eve concert in Piazza Unità is one of Trieste’s most anticipated public events, drawing both locals and tourists to the seafront square for music, countdowns and midnight festivities.
