What to do in December 2025 in Italy: 10 unmissable events

December is undeniably one of the most magical times to visit, making it the perfect answer to the question: "what to do in Italy in December?"

While the weather is cold and the days are at their shortest, Italian cities transform into a winter wonderland, brilliantly illuminated with countless festive lights, magnificent Christmas trees, and joyful decorations. The air is filled with a unique festivity mood, offering a superb opportunity to escape the everyday and enjoy great cultural events.

Don't miss the chance to travel to Italy this December 2025, we have compiled a guide to 10 must-see events and exhibitions that are either launching or already captivating visitors throughout the month.

December in Italy is synonymous with celebration, thanks to the heart of the Christmas season and the anticipation of New Year's Eve festivities. This makes it an ideal month for planning a spectacular Italian vacation, whether your goal is to discover a beautiful art exhibition or to join an international-calibre event.

From music and art to cinema, literature, and sport, Italy in December offers a broad and varied selection of international events. From the snowy mountains to major urban hubs like Turin, Rome and Milan, our ultimate guide details the top exhibitions and events not to be missed. Make your travel plans now and discover the very best of what to do in Italy in December 2025!

The annual inauguration of the lyrical season at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan is universally recognized as the most significant international event in the world of opera. This prestigious tradition always takes place on December 7th, coinciding with the Feast Day of Sant'Ambrogio (Saint Ambrose), Milan's patron saint. It marks the formal beginning of the new opera season and is a major highlight of what to do in Italy in December.

The highly anticipated Scala Opening Night 2025/2026 will be inaugurated by Dmitry Shostakovich's powerful masterpiece: Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District directed by the conductor Riccardo Chailly.

For modern art enthusiasts the Peggy Guggenheim Collection offers a must-see exhibition: Manu-Facture: The Ceramics of Lucio Fontana. Running from October 11, 2025, through March 2, 2026, this major solo show is the first museum exhibition dedicated exclusively to the ceramic and terracotta works of the Argentinian-Italian master, Lucio Fontana, who is most famous for his slashed canvases.

The exhibition showcases approximately 70 pieces, including rare and previously unexhibited sculptures that demonstrate Fontana's explosive creativity in three dimensions—ranging from human figures and mythical subjects to abstract forms—making it a must see exhibition in Venice.

If you are planning what to do in Italy in December, a visit to Umbria to see the Gubbio Christmas Tree is an absolute must. Since 1981, this breathtaking spectacle has held the Guinness World Record for the World's Largest Christmas Tree.

This unparalleled winter attraction in the Umbria region transforms the slopes of Mount Ingino into a giant, shimmering Christmas symbol. The tree stands at a colossal height of 750 meters and covers an area of over 130,000 square meters. More than 700 multicolored lights and 12,000 meters of electrical cable are carefully arranged to form the distinct shape of the Christmas tree, visible every night from the medieval town of Gubbio after sunset.

This year the Gubbio Christmas Tree will be officially lit on Sunday, December 7, 2025, kicking off the holiday season. The lighting ceremony is a major festive event in the region.

For culture enthusiasts searching for What to do in Italy in December 2025, a visit to the Fondazione Magnani Rocca near Parma is highly recommended. The current exhibition, Moda e Pubblicità in Italia 1950-2000, is a captivating journey through five decades of Italian style and visual communication.

The exhibit brilliantly showcases the synergy between high fashion (Moda) and groundbreaking Italian advertising (Pubblicità), featuring works by renowned photographers, graphic designers, and fashion houses that shaped modern Italian identity. Running until December 8, 2025, this is a must-see event to explore the history of Italian creativity before it closes.

The Gran Balon is much more than just a flea market—it’s a deep dive into Italian history and vintage culture, making it an essential entry on any list of What to do in Italy in December. The Gran Balon antique market in December which it is always scheduled the second Sunday of the month and the Dicember’s date is the most atmospheric edition of the year. This massive, historic market transforms the charming Borgo Dora district on Sunday, December 14, 2025, into a sprawling treasure trove.

With over 250 exhibitors, the Gran Balon is a collector’s paradise, offering everything from vintage furniture and art to rare books, clothing, and quirky collectibles—the perfect place to find a unique Christmas gift or a genuine piece of Turin's history.

For a vibrant and heartfelt cultural immersion, the exhibition Totò e la sua Napoli (Totò and his Naples) at the Palazzo Reale in Naples is an unmissable event. Running from October 31, 2025, to January 25, 2026, this exhibition celebrates Antonio De Curtis—known simply as Totò—the legendary "Prince of Laughter" and an enduring symbol of Neapolitan spirit worldwide.

The exhibition explores the profound, inseparable link between the comedic genius and his city, showcasing rare documents, personal memorabilia, costumes, and multimedia installations that trace his life from the Rione Sanità to international fame, making it an essential and deeply emotional cultural event.

The charming town of San Quirico d'Orcia hosts the annual Festa dell'Olio (Extra Virgin Olive Oil Fair), typically held during the first week of the month, this year it is scheduled from the 6 until the 8 of December 2025. This renowned event celebrates the start of the new pressing season, allowing visitors to taste the prized extra virgin olive oil fresh from the mills.

Held in the picturesque setting of the UNESCO World Heritage Val d'Orcia, the festival features tastings, guided tours of olive groves, traditional market stalls, and regional cuisine, making it a flavorful and authentic highlight of Tuscan food fairs during the holiday season.

For an absolutely unmissable cultural experience head to the Scuderie del Quirinale for the prestigious exhibition, Treasures of the Pharaohs. Running from October 2025 to May 2026, this extraordinary collection brings over 130 Egyptian masterpieces—many displayed for the first time in Italy—from the most important museums in Egypt.

Visitors can embark on a profound journey through three millennia of civilization, exploring the divine authority of the pharaohs, the splendor of the New Kingdom, and the mysteries of the afterlife, solidifying its place as the premier historical art exhibition in Rome this holiday season.

December 2025 cements Italy's status as a premier destination for winter sports fans. The picturesque Dolomites region, specifically the areas of South Tyrol (the german-speaking area of Trentino Alto-Adige), will host the thrilling speed and technical races of the Men’s FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2025/2026 season. This is the ultimate winter event for finding out What to do in Italy in December for ski enthusiasts, with three classic venues hosting four spectacular races.

The traditional Italian World Cup races take place on three of the most famous and scenic slopes in the circuit: the legendary Saslong in Val Gardena scheduled on the 19-20 of December and the demanding Gran Risa in Alta Badia scheduled oth the 21-22 of December and a brand new Super-G in Livigno scheduled on the 27th of December.

For lovers of Renaissance art, the major exhibition Beato Angelico is a highlight, an unmissable event to attend this December. Running until January 25, 2026, this extraordinary, dual-venue show at Palazzo Strozzi and the Museo di San Marco celebrates Fra Giovanni da Fiesole, one of the founding fathers of Renaissance painting.

The exhibition reunites over 140 masterpieces, many for the first time in over two centuries, from prestigious collections worldwide. It is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the harmony, light, and profound spirituality of the master's work, a key figure in 15th-century Italian art and a central part of Florence's rich cultural calendar.

The cultural and event landscape in Italy in December 2025 is rich and varied, offering an almost unlimited supply of activities for your winter vacation. Key highlights include world-class sport events, prestigious concerts and major art exhibitions running in Rome and Florence. Choose your next travel destination from these iconic cities and don't miss the chance to experience the festive atmosphere, illuminated streets, and Christmas markets as Italy celebrates the end of the year.