Christmas in Ischia
Lights, markets, and concerts on the Green Island, from late November to Epiphany
About Christmas in Ischia
A Mediterranean Christmas on the Green Island
Christmas in Ischia is the holiday festival promoted by the Municipality of Ischia, in the province of Naples, Campania: a widespread program that accompanies the island from late November until Epiphany. It is not a single event, but a month and a half of appointments involving the port, Corso Vittoria Colonna, Piazza degli Eroi, Piazza Antica Reggia, the village of Ischia Ponte, and the hillside hamlet of Campagnano.
The unique feature of this Christmas is the climate: on the island of Ischia, temperatures remain mild even in December, and much of the program takes place outdoors, amidst walks along the seafront, markets, and concerts in the square. It is the period when the island returns to being primarily for the locals, far from the summer crowds, and when visitors can discover it at a slower, more authentic pace.
Illuminations, markets, and Santa's Cabin
The official start coincides with the lighting of the great tree in Piazza degli Eroi and all the municipal lights: a festive afternoon with shows, dance performances, choirs, the Ischia City Band, bagpipers, and the arrival of Santa Claus, with the square closed to traffic and inflatables for the little ones. From that moment, the center changes its face and remains lit until January 6th.
- Christmas Markets: stalls and small houses of crafts along Via Edgardo Cortese and Corso Vittoria Colonna, open every day;
- Santa's Cabin: the house for letters at number 105 on the Corso, with entertainment and workshops for children;
- Christmas Along the Corso: Neapolitan nativity scenes set up in shop windows, an open-air trail that lasts throughout the holidays;
- Illuminations: Corso Vittoria Colonna and the streets of the center illuminated every evening until Epiphany.
Concerts, theater, and family shows
The musical heart of the festival is Piazza degli Eroi, which hosts a free concert by a nationally renowned artist between Christmas and New Year's. Recent editions have featured names like Mario Biondi, Serena Brancale, and Irene Grandi, always with free admission.
Alongside the big concerts, there is a more intimate daily program: Piazzetta San Girolamo is the realm of children's shows on weekends, the Cine Teatro Excelsior hosts performances by the island's schools, while the parishes of San Ciro, Santa Maria delle Grazie, and Buon Pastore host school choir concerts and sacred Advent music. There is no shortage of mascot parades along the Corso and square events with live music and cabaret.
New Year's Eve in Piazza Antica Reggia
New Year's Eve is the most awaited moment: the grand New Year's Eve party is held in Piazza Antica Reggia, a stone's throw from the port, with DJ sets and musical guests until dawn. However, December 31st begins at noon with the traditional New Year's Eve brunch between Piazza Antica Reggia, Ischia Ponte, and Campagnano, and on January 1st, it continues with the ritual New Year's plunge in the waters of San Pietro beach, now an island classic.
Nativity scenes, the Three Wise Men, and the Befana
The most traditional part of the program is the one that closes the festivities. In late December, the rural village of Campagnano stages its Living Nativity Scene among the houses and alleys of the hill, while on January 6th, the Three Wise Men truly arrive from the sea, landing on the Mandra beach to reach the center in a procession: it is the The Three Wise Men come from the sea event, followed in the afternoon by the Befana Festival in Piazzetta San Girolamo.
A program built with the island
Christmas in Ischia is organized by the Municipality of Ischia with the contribution of Ischia Risorsa Mare and the DMO Ischia, together with cultural associations, schools, parishes, and local merchants. The formula is that of a community Christmas: almost all appointments are free admission, designed to bring the squares to life even in the low season and to support the island's commercial activities in the months when thermal tourism slows down.
For those visiting Campania in winter, it is also an opportunity to discover another side of Ischia: the Aragonese Castle and the village of Ischia Ponte without queues, the thermal baths open all year round, and the island cuisine with rabbit all'ischitana and festive sweets, from struffoli to roccocò.
Christmas in Ischia — edition 2026
Forty days of festivities between the port, Ponte, and Campagnano
The 2025/2026 edition of Christmas in Ischia started on Saturday, November 29, 2025: from 3:00 PM, Piazza degli Eroi, closed to traffic, filled with inflatables, animated dragons and dinosaurs, the show Pippi Longstocking and the Gifts of Christmas, dance school performances, the Cordate Vocali, the Ischia City Band, and bagpipers, until the tree and all the illuminations were lit at dusk.
From then on, the center remained lit every day: the Christmas markets on Via Edgardo Cortese and Corso Vittoria Colonna, Santa's Cabin at number 105 of the Corso (open from December 6 to January 1), and Christmas Along the Corso, with Neapolitan nativity scenes in shop windows.
The weekend was dedicated to children in Piazzetta San Girolamo, with events like Christmas Wow by CircoWow, The Christmas School, and Shrek Christmas, while the island's churches hosted the choral festival A Christmas in Harmony. The most awaited moments were the concert by Irene Grandi in Piazza degli Eroi on December 29 and the New Year's Eve party in Piazza Antica Reggia with Marco Ligabue, DJ Osso, and Tony Romano. On January 6, as per tradition, the Three Wise Men arrived from the sea on Mandra beach.
Programme Christmas in Ischia 2026
November 2025
- Saturday, November 29 — Piazza degli Eroi: from 3:00 PM show Pippi Longstocking and the Gifts of Christmas, dance performances, Cordate Vocali, Ischia City Band, bagpipers, and the arrival of Santa Claus; at 5:00 PM lighting of the tree and illuminations.
December 2025
- December 6 — Corso Vittoria Colonna 105, 4:00 PM: opening of Santa's Cabin; bagpipers in the center.
- December 7 — Corso Vittoria Colonna, 10:00 AM: Christmas Along the Corso, nativity scenes in windows. 3:00 PM, Piazzetta San Girolamo: Christmas Wow, show by CircoWow.
- December 8 — San Ciro Parish, 7:45 PM: concert-show The Greatest Desire.
- December 10 — Cine Teatro Excelsior, 8:00 PM: theatrical show by I.C. Ischia 2.
- December 13: 4:00 PM Fantasilandia mascot parade; 8:00 PM C'è Piazza per Te in Piazza Antica Reggia.
- December 14 — Royal Palace, 4:00 PM: Ischia on the Catwalk - Christmas Edition, fashion show (free, reservation required).
- December 16-22 — Santa Maria delle Grazie Parish, 9:30 AM-1:30 PM: A Christmas in Harmony, school choir festival.
- December 17-19 — San Ciro Church, 9:30 AM-1:30 PM: A Christmas in Harmony.
- December 20 — Corso Vittoria Colonna, 3:00 PM: Santa Claus in an Ape Calessino.
- December 21 — Piazzetta San Girolamo: 10:30 AM The Temple of Christmas with dance schools; 3:00 PM The Christmas School; 8:00 PM Christmas carols at the Buon Pastore Church.
- December 24, 12:00 PM: Christmas Eve brunch in Piazza Antica Reggia, Ischia Ponte, and Campagnano.
- December 27 — Campagnano: 4:00 PM Living Nativity Scene; 8:00 PM C'è Piazza per Te.
- December 28 — Piazzetta San Girolamo, 3:00 PM: Shrek Christmas.
- December 29 — Piazza degli Eroi, 8:30 PM: concert by Irene Grandi, Fiera di Me 2025 tour.
- December 30 — Ischia Ponte, 6:00 PM: Village Festival Winter Edition.
- December 31: 11:00 AM Neapolitan New Year concert at San Pietro Parish; 12:00 PM Christmas Eve brunch; 11:00 PM grand New Year's Eve party in Piazza Antica Reggia with Marco Ligabue, DJ Osso, and Tony Romano.
January 2026
- January 1: 12:00 PM New Year's plunge at San Pietro beach; 6:00 PM Village Festival Winter Edition in Ischia Ponte.
- January 5: C'è Piazza per Te.
- January 6: 11:00 AM The Three Wise Men come from the sea, landing at Mandra beach; 3:00 PM Befana Festival in Piazzetta San Girolamo.
Highlights Christmas in Ischia 2026
- Lighting of the tree and illuminations in Piazza degli Eroi, November 29, 2025.
- Free concert by Irene Grandi in Piazza degli Eroi, December 29.
- Grand New Year's Eve party in Piazza Antica Reggia with Marco Ligabue and DJ Osso.
- Living Nativity Scene in the hillside village of Campagnano, December 27.
- The Three Wise Men come from the sea: landing at Mandra beach on January 6.
- Artisan markets and Santa's Cabin open daily on Corso Vittoria Colonna.
- New Year's plunge on January 1 at San Pietro beach.
Prices Christmas in Ischia 2026
Practical information — Christmas in Ischia
How to get there
Ischia can only be reached by sea. Ferries and hydrofoils depart from Naples (Molo Beverello and Porta di Massa) and from Pozzuoli, with connections also from Procida; the crossing takes between 50 minutes and an hour and a half depending on the vessel. You land at Ischia Porto, a few steps from Piazza degli Eroi and Corso Vittoria Colonna, where most of the events are concentrated. The nearest airport is Naples-Capodichino, connected to the ports by shuttles and taxis.
Getting around the island
In winter, it is advisable to leave your car on the mainland: the center of Ischia is pedestrianized during the holidays, and EAV buses connect all the island's municipalities, from Casamicciola Terme to Forio, Lacco Ameno, Barano, and Sant'Angelo. For Campagnano and Ischia Ponte, the urban service is frequent.
Costs
The illuminations, markets, concerts in Piazza degli Eroi, and the New Year's Eve party in Piazza Antica Reggia are free admission. For some indoor shows, free reservations may be required. Only drinks and private activities remain paid.
Tips
Book your ferry and accommodation in advance for New Year's Eve and the Epiphany long weekend. Many thermal hotels on the island remain open in winter with lower rates than in summer: it is the ideal season to combine thermal baths with the festivities. Bring a windbreaker: evenings in the square are mild but humid.
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Where does it take place — Christmas in Ischia
Piazza degli Eroi e centro di Ischia Porto
Piazza degli Eroi, 80077 Ischia