Pisan New Year
On March 25th, Pisa welcomes the new year according to the ancient calendar
About Pisan New Year
A tradition dating back to the Middle Ages
The Pisan New Year is one of the oldest and most evocative identity-defining celebrations in the city of Pisa, in the heart of Tuscany. According to the "ab Incarnatione Domini" calendar, adopted in Pisa around the year 985, the year did not begin on January 1st, but on March 25th, the day of the Annunciation. This meant the Pisan calendar was nearly three months ahead of the common one. This custom was maintained until 1749, when the Grand Duchy of Tuscany standardized the calculation of time. In the 1980s, the tradition was revived and is now a deeply felt event for the local community.
The sunbeam ceremony
The heart of the festival is the sunbeam ceremony, which takes place every March 25th in the majestic Pisa Cathedral, in Piazza del Duomo. At precisely noon, a ray of sunlight filters through a small window in the Cathedral and strikes a marble oval located on the pillar next to the famous pulpit by Giovanni Pisano. It is the signal that symbolically marks the transition to the new year according to Pisan tradition. The ceremony is preceded by the liturgy of the Annunciation and accompanied by the offering of candles.
The historical pageant and re-enactments
Before the ceremony, the historic center comes alive with a grand historical costume pageant: performers, flag-wavers, drummers, and city representatives parade in medieval attire, starting from Palazzo Gambacorti in Piazza XX Settembre, crossing the Ponte di Mezzo, Borgo Stretto, Piazza dei Cavalieri, and Via Santa Maria until reaching Piazza dei Miracoli. The event, organized by the Municipality of Pisa with the collaboration of numerous local associations, also includes performances, flower festivals, markets, book presentations, and activities dedicated to schools, spread over several days.
A city-wide celebration
The Pisan New Year is not just a one-day event: in the days leading up to and following March 25th, the city in the Province of Pisa offers a rich calendar of cultural and popular initiatives. These include the Annunciation flower festival at the Church of Santa Maria della Spina, the grand celebration at the Giardino Scotto with historical re-enactments and the Crossbow Palio, and the spectacular drone show over the Lungarni. It is an opportunity to rediscover the history, traditions, and identity of Pisa.
Pisan New Year — edition 2026
The 2026 program
The 2026 edition of the Pisan New Year spanned several days, with the heart of the celebration on March 25th. At 11:00 AM, the historical pageant departed from Palazzo Gambacorti, in Piazza XX Settembre, crossing the Ponte di Mezzo, Borgo Stretto, Piazza dei Cavalieri, and Via Santa Maria up to Piazza del Duomo. At 11:30 AM, inside the Cathedral, the sunbeam ceremony took place with the offering of candles, a symbolic moment of the transition to the Pisan new year.
On the afternoon of March 25th, in the Sala delle Baleari of Palazzo Gambacorti, the book "La croce di Pisa" by Giovanni Giovinazzo was presented. Among the side events, the Annunciation flower festival at the Church of Santa Maria della Spina and, on Saturday, March 28th, the grand celebration at the Giardino Scotto and the Bastione Sangallo with historical re-enactments, the Crossbow Palio, and, in the evening, a drone show over the Lungarni dedicated to the symbols of the city.
Programme Pisan New Year 2026
Wednesday, March 25th — New Year's Day
- 11:00 AM — Historical costume pageant departing from Palazzo Gambacorti (Piazza XX Settembre), along Ponte di Mezzo, Borgo Stretto, Piazza dei Cavalieri, and Via Santa Maria to Piazza del Duomo
- 11:30 AM — Sunbeam ceremony in the Cathedral, with the liturgy of the Annunciation and the offering of candles
- Noon — Official proclamation of the beginning of the Pisan new year
- 5:30 PM — Sala delle Baleari, Palazzo Gambacorti: book presentation of "La croce di Pisa" by Giovanni Giovinazzo
March 22nd to 26th
- Annunciation flower festival at the Church of Santa Maria della Spina, organized by the Pro Loco of Fucecchio (9:00 AM - 7:00 PM, free admission)
Saturday, March 28th — Pisan New Year Celebration
- From 10:00 AM — Historical re-enactments at the Bastione Sangallo and the Giardino Scotto Arena
- 4:30 PM — Crossbow Palio
- 5:30 PM — Concert
- 11:00 PM — Drone show "From tradition to identity: the symbols of Pisa" between Ponte di Mezzo, Lungarno Mediceo, and Lungarno Galilei
Additionally, a scale model of the Citadel Fortress was on display at Palazzo Gambacorti, open to visitors until April 18th.
Highlights Pisan New Year 2026
- The sunbeam ceremony in the Cathedral on March 25th
- The historical costume pageant from Palazzo Gambacorti to Piazza dei Miracoli
- The Crossbow Palio on March 28th at the Giardino Scotto
- The evening drone show over the Lungarni
Prices Pisan New Year 2026
Practical information — Pisan New Year
How to get there
Pisa is easily accessible by train (Pisa Centrale station, a few minutes from the historic center) and by plane via the Galileo Galilei International Airport. By car, it can be reached via the A11 Florence-Pisa-Livorno motorway and the SGC FI-PI-LI expressway.
Where it takes place
The main events are concentrated in the historic center: Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral), Palazzo Gambacorti, Ponte di Mezzo, Piazza dei Cavalieri, Giardino Scotto, and the Lungarni.
Admission
The sunbeam ceremony and the historical pageant are free and open to everyone. Some side events may have specific access requirements.
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Where does it take place — Pisan New Year
Cattedrale di Pisa e centro storico
Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa