10 top events to attend in Rome in March 2026

March is one of the best months to plan a trip to Rome. Spring officially arrives in the Eternal City with mild temperatures around 16-20°C and fewer crowds than the upcoming Easter celebrations. It’s the perfect time to enjoy the city's gardens beginning to bloom and to go for outdoor historical walks in the warm Italian sun.

March 2026 is also full of interesting internationally relevant events, from art exhibitions to sporting experiences and Italian religious traditions. Don't miss the chance to visit Rome this March 2026; indeed, you will have the opportunity to experience one of these incredible events and exhibitions. Here are 10 of the most interesting events to attend in Italy in March 2026.

Rome in March is a month full of events scheduled in its most fascinating and relevant locations, making it the perfect month for a spring break in the Eternal City. With numerous international sporting events and art exhibitions, the cultural offerings in March 2026 are diverse and extensive.

From the city center to the EUR district across Rome's most important museums, follow our guide to 10 must-see events in Rome in March 2026.

It is the oldest and most relevant rugby tournament, the Guinness Six Nations, and it will arrive in Rome at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, March 7, 2026, as Italy takes on England.

With the Azzurri showing renewed grit and a passionate home crowd behind them, the Eternal City will be buzzing with fans from across Europe. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:45 PM, making it the perfect centerpiece for a high-energy sporting weekend.

• Date and location: March 7, Stadio Olimpico

On March 8th, Rome celebrates International Women's Day with a special gift: historically, state-run museums—including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and MAXXI—offer free admission to women on this day.

Restaurants, bistros and cocktail bars celebrate this day with special menus and parties with live music, and the city’s flower stalls are filled with bright yellow Mimosa flowers, the traditional symbol of respect and appreciation given to women throughout Italy on this holiday.

• Date and location: March 8, Rome

It is one of the season's most sparkling art events: the exhibition Cartier and the Myth is hosted at the Capitoline Museums. Running until March 15, 2026, this exhibition places legendary Cartier jewels in direct conversation with the ancient Roman sculptures collection displayed inside the Capitoline Museums.

It is a rare opportunity to see how the aesthetic of antiquity continues to inspire modern luxury today.

• Date and location: until March 15, Capitoline Museums

On March 19th Italy celebrates Father’s Day because it is traditionally the day of Saint Joseph, a day in Rome where spirituality meets street food. The absolute must-do? Visit a local pasticceria to taste the bignè di San Giuseppe—delicious cream puffs traditionally eaten only for this occasion—or the Zeppole di San Giuseppe, a fried pastry filled with cream and black cherries.

• Date and location: March 19, Rome

Following the massive success of the Caravaggio 2025 showcase, Palazzo Barberini presents "Bernini e i Barberini," a solo exhibition which celebrates the genius of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, one of the greatest Italian artists of all time.

This exhibition—scheduled from February 12 until June 14, 2026—explores the revolutionary partnership between Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Pope Urban VIII. It coincides with the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter’s Basilica, making it a pivotal event for art history lovers.

• Date and location: February 12 - June 14, Palazzo Barberini

Fashion lovers should head to Palazzo Mignanelli, the historic headquarters of the Valentino fashion house. From January through May 31, 2026, the PM23 exhibition space hosts "Venus: Valentino Garavani through the eyes of Joana Vasconcelos".

This exhibition is an immersive dialogue between the contemporary sculptures of Vasconcelos and 22 of Valentino's haute couture dresses, a masterclass in Italian elegance and craftsmanship. Moreover, to complete and celebrate the Venus exhibition, two giant sculptures made by Joana Vasconcelos are displayed in Piazza Mignanelli and on the Pincio terrace.

• Date and location: January 18 - May 31, Palazzo Mignanelli

During March, Rome celebrates the arrival of the spring season with Hanami, the Japanese tradition of viewing cherry blossoms at Il Laghetto, a mid-century oasis built for the 1960 Olympics in Rome's EUR district.

Its centerpiece, the Passeggiata del Giappone (Japan Walk), features thousands of cherry trees that explode into pink blossoms every March. This stunning sakura spectacle invites you to celebrate Hanami right in the heart of Italy.

• Date and location: Throughout March, EUR's lake park

Visiting Rome in March gives you the opportunity to commemorate the Ides of March, the historical event of Julius Caesar’s assassination which occurred on the 15th of March in 44 BC.

Every year at Largo di Torre Argentina, the site of Julius Caesar’s assassination, historical re-enactment groups perform the dramatic events that happened more than 2000 years ago, one of the most relevant events of Ancient Rome history.It is a beautiful way to witness Roman history step off the pages of textbooks and into the ruins of the modern city.

Date and location: March 15, Largo di Torre Argentina

It is one of the most stunning races in the world thanks to its unique track which goes throughout Rome's most beautiful masterpieces: the Rome Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, March 22.

For this event, the Eternal City becomes the ultimate race track because the Rome Marathon is widely considered one of the most beautiful courses in the world. Starting and finishing in the shadow of the Colosseum, runners will pass the Baths of Caracalla, the Vatican, and the Spanish Steps. Even if you aren't running the full 42km, the 5km "Fun Run" on March 21 offers a chance for everyone to join the celebration.

• Date and location: March 22, Rome's city center

Marking the start of Holy Week, this year Palm Sunday falls on March 29. Tens of thousands of pilgrims gather in St. Peter’s Square for the Papal Mass, the traditional blessing of the palms, and the Urbi et Orbi celebration.

It is one of the most evocative spiritual moments in Rome, marking the beginning of the most spiritual week for all Catholics worldwide which ends on Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday in Rome is characterized by grand processions and the unique atmosphere of the Vatican City.

• Date and location: March 29, Saint Peter's Square