What to do in Rome in February 2026: 7 events not to be missed

February is one of those months when Rome reveals a charm all its own. The city slows down just enough to let its true soul emerge, shaped by soft light, unhurried walks, and cultural events that enliven everyday life. Rome confirms itself as a vibrant and surprising destination, offering new experiences each day through major events, noteworthy exhibitions, concerts, and live performances.

If you’re wondering what to do in Rome February 2026, you’ll find a rich and varied calendar waiting for you. It’s the perfect time to explore museums at a relaxed pace, enjoy an evening concert, or be moved by an exhibition or special event, perhaps tucked away behind a square that has been telling its story for centuries.

Walking through the streets of the Eternal City, you’re surrounded by a timeless beauty that needs no introduction. Every step becomes an ongoing dialogue with history, and every corner turns into a natural stage for cultural events that find here a truly unique setting.

The events calendar in Rome February 2026 moves along this fascinating balance between past and present. Alongside major exhibitions and highly anticipated concerts, there are also events that highlight iconic landmarks and lesser-known spaces, offering the chance to experience Rome in a more mindful and engaging way.

Let’s take a closer look at a curated selection of events worth marking on your calendar, experiences that reflect the cultural vitality of the capital and make February one of the most interesting months to discover, or rediscover, Rome from a fresh perspective.

On February 9, 2026, Rome hosts one of the most anticipated shows for pop music lovers: Human Nature Live Show, the tribute to Michael Jackson that has already conquered some of Europe’s most prestigious theatres. The chosen venue is the Auditorium Conciliazione, a space that for one night transforms into an immersive journey through the creative universe of the King of Pop.

Music, choreography, and stage design interact with remarkable precision, recreating on stage the essence of Michael Jackson’s original performances while preserving the emotional power that made him a global icon. Every moment is carefully crafted to revive the energy, style, and visual impact that have shaped entire generations.

At the heart of the show is Miguel Concha, whose performance captures not only Michael Jackson’s voice and movements, but also his artistic soul. Supported by an outstanding dance crew, musicians, and backing vocalists, the result is a captivating and high-energy atmosphere. More than a tribute, the show becomes a full experience, transporting the audience into a world of rhythm, emotion, and collective memory.

When: February 9, 2026, at 9:00 pm
Where: Auditorium Conciliazione, Via della Conciliazione 4

Among the must-see exhibitions in Rome February 2026, Alphonse Mucha. A Triumph of Beauty and Seduction stands out as the most extensive retrospective ever held in Italy dedicated to Alphonse Mucha, the undisputed master of Art Nouveau and a key figure in the visual imagination between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The exhibition leads visitors into a hypnotic and instantly recognizable aesthetic universe, shaped by ethereal female figures, magnetic gazes, floral motifs, and sinuous lines that seem to move through space. More than 150 original works reveal the extraordinary versatility of Mucha, accompanied by objects, furnishings, and documents that shed light on the complexity of his artistic language and the cultural context in which it developed.

What makes the exhibition even more remarkable is an unexpected dialogue with Italian art history. On display is also Botticelli’s Venus, a special loan from the Royal Museums of Turin. This encounter creates a visual and symbolic bridge between different eras, placing the Renaissance ideal of beauty alongside the refined and sensual vision of Art Nouveau.

When: Until March 8, 2026
Where: Palazzo Bonaparte, Piazza Venezia 5

One of the most refined musical events in Rome February 2026 features the timeless talent of Tommy Emmanuel, a true living legend of acoustic guitar. The Australian guitarist takes the stage at the Sala Sinopoli, inside the Auditorium Parco della Musica.

A career built over decades of international success and recognition has established him as one of the greatest guitar virtuosos in the world. On stage, each piece becomes a story, with notes flowing as if born from a direct and unfiltered dialogue with the audience.

The program weaves together his most beloved classics and new compositions, moving effortlessly between country, jazz, blues, and folk. His style is instantly recognizable, defined by impeccable technique and genuine emotion. Emmanuel’s ability to turn the guitar into a complete orchestra makes every performance a truly unique experience.

When: February 6, 2026, at 9:00 pm
Where: Auditorium Parco della Musica – Sala Sinopoli, Via Pietro De Coubertin 30

Rome hosts Cartier and Myth, an elegant and surprising encounter between high jewelry and classical art. For the first time, the rooms of Palazzo Nuovo welcome a temporary exhibition that brings the masterpieces of the Maison Cartier into dialogue with the ancient Greco-Roman sculptures of the Albani collection.

The exhibition explores the deep connection between classical beauty and contemporary jewelry art, showing how the forms, proportions, and myths of antiquity continue to inspire modern creativity. Necklaces, bracelets, and tiaras mirror the statues of Apollo, Aphrodite, and Hercules, creating a silent yet powerful dialogue, as if art had merely changed its material without ever interrupting its narrative.

Enhancing the immersive quality of the experience is the scenographic intervention by Dante Ferretti, three-time Academy Award winner, who designed a striking, cinematic entrance staircase. Lights, sounds, and atmospheres envelop visitors from the very first steps, accompanied by a refined olfactory journey curated by Mathilde Laurent, Cartier’s in-house perfumer.

When: Until March 15, 2026
Where: Capitoline Museums, Piazza del Campidoglio

The Roma Whisky Festival & Brown Spirits is also part of the events calendar in February 2026, dedicated to those who experience whisky as a cultural journey before a tasting one. Over the years, the festival has become a reference point for enthusiasts, industry professionals, and curious newcomers eager to approach this world with greater awareness.

For more than fifteen years, the Roma Whisky Festival has worked to promote whisky and brown spirits, encouraging responsible drinking and creating a privileged showcase where participating companies can engage with a broad and diverse audience of experts, connoisseurs, and first-time explorers.

One of the most fascinating highlights of the 2026 edition is a new feature born from the collaboration with ORO Whisky Bar. A refined, retro-style area invites visitors on a journey back to the Golden Age of whisky, offering the rare opportunity to taste precious malts dating back to the 20th century.

When: February 28 (and March 1), 2026
Where: Salone delle Fontane, Via Ciro il Grande 10

In February 2026, Rome pays tribute to one of the most visionary figures of the twentieth century with a new chapter in the Great Masters of Photography series, promoted by the Hungarian Academy in Rome. At the heart of the exhibition is László Moholy-Nagy, a Hungarian-born artist and a leading figure of the European avant-garde, who moved effortlessly between photography, cinema, design, and visual experimentation.

The exhibition brings together around sixty works from the Moholy-Nagy Foundation. Alongside the photographs, visitors will find materials that trace his personal and creative journey: images connected to his private life, excerpts from his films, and installations designed to convey the complexity of an artist who made the cross-pollination of artistic languages his defining trait.

The exhibition design itself becomes part of the narrative. The layout is inspired by the formal language of the Bauhaus movement, with which Moholy-Nagy is inextricably linked. A large illuminated panel runs through the space, lighting images printed on transparent surfaces and creating a visual effect that echoes his ongoing exploration of the relationship between light, form, and perception.

The itinerary guides visitors through key places and moments in his life: the studio he shared with Lucia Moholy-Nagy in Dessau in 1926, his Chicago office in 1937, and the installation of an exhibition in Brno in 1935. Theatre sets and sketches are also on display, along with an illustrated film script.

When: until 28 February 2026
Where: Palazzo Falconieri, Via Giulia 1

Among the most anticipated concerts on the contemporary music scene in February 2026, Rome welcomes Earl Sweatshirt, ready to bring Live Laugh Love to the stage, an album that marks a significant turning point in his artistic evolution. A title that began almost as a provocation has gradually become a personal manifesto of nostalgia, introspection, and poetic imagery, far removed from the most immediate hip-hop stereotypes.

In this latest work, Earl Sweatshirt continues to dig deep, weaving together words, symbols, and melancholic sounds that reflect an increasingly conscious inner search. Tracks such as Tourmaline reveal his focus on spirituality, everyday life, and an autobiography filtered through surreal visions, capable of transforming personal experience into a universal narrative. The result is dense, layered writing that invites attentive listening rather than instant consumption.

On the stage of the Hacienda, the audience will be able to follow this journey live, moving between new material and key milestones from his career. A path that begins with his early days in Odd Future and leads to an artistic maturity that has established him as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary hip hop.

When: February 2, 2026, at 9:30 pm
Where: Hacienda, Via dei Cluniacensi, 68