Roma Capodarte
Rome's widespread cultural New Year's celebration
About Capodarte
Rome's Cultural New Year
Roma Capodarte is the widespread event with which Roma Capitale greets the start of the year in the name of culture. On January 1st, from morning until night, the city transforms into an immense open-air stage: over one hundred events, almost all with free admission, fill museums, theaters, cinemas, libraries, exhibition spaces, and squares in all fifteen districts of the Municipality of Rome, in the Lazio region. It is a unique and participatory way to start the year, attracting tens of thousands of locals and visitors every edition.
A city-wide celebration
The program is intentionally multidisciplinary: live music, theater, dance, cinema, visual arts, literature, and storytelling intertwine with guided tours, itineraries through historical and archaeological heritage, and numerous activities dedicated to children and families. The Civic Museums and archaeological sites open their doors for free, alongside major exhibition spaces like the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, the Mattatoio, and the MACRO, while concerts and performances bring artists and audiences into neighborhood squares, from the historic center to the suburbs.
The 2026 edition: A tribute to the Constituent Assembly
The fifth edition, scheduled for January 1st, 2026, is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Constituent Assembly and the values of the Italian Constitution. Throughout the day, thousands of free copies of the Constitution are distributed, and many events—readings, performances, and tours—are inspired by its articles. Large stages animate Piazza Navona, Rampa Prenestina, and the Acilia station square, with genres ranging from comedy to tango, and from singer-songwriter music to rap and urban cultures.
Cinema, museums, and heritage tours
Alongside the concerts, the programming highlights the city's heritage: screenings of great Italian cinema classics in municipal halls, concerts by the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in museum spaces, literary readings, and guided tours by the Sovrintendenza Capitolina to discover the history of Rome. In various Civic Museums, visitors are welcomed by expert guides, while municipal libraries offer participatory readings and workshops for the little ones.
An initiative by Roma Capitale
Roma Capodarte is promoted by the Department of Culture of Roma Capitale together with the city's main cultural institutions, including the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the Fondazione Cinema per Roma, the Teatro dell'Opera, the Fondazione Romaeuropa, and the Istituzione Biblioteche di Roma. It is a project that, edition after edition, confirms Rome's vocation as a cultural capital and culture as the best way to start the year.
Capodarte — edition 2026
Roma Capodarte 2026 — Tribute to the Constituent Assembly
The fifth edition of Roma Capodarte opens the year on January 1st, 2026, in the spirit of the 80th anniversary of the Constituent Assembly and the values of the Italian Constitution. Over one hundred events, almost all free, took place in all fifteen districts of Rome, accompanied by the distribution of thousands of copies of the Constitutional Charter.
Stages and performances
Three large stages animated the city: Piazza Navona, with comedy in the afternoon and Argentine tango in the evening; Rampa Prenestina, with concerts and live music; and the Acilia station square, dedicated to urban cultures with K-pop, breakdance, and rap. Numerous appointments also took place at the Auditorium, in municipal theaters, and in neighborhood spaces.
Museums, cinema, and tours
The Civic Museums and archaeological areas opened for free from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, along with the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Mattatoio, and MACRO. The program included screenings of Italian cinema classics in municipal halls, concerts by the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in museum spaces, literary readings, and guided tours by the Sovrintendenza Capitolina inspired by the articles of the Constitution.
Programme Capodarte 2026
The three main stages
- Piazza Navona — comedy in the afternoon (from 3:30 PM) and an evening of Argentine tango with milonga (from 6:00 PM), with Daiana Guspero and Miguel Ángel Zotto
- Rampa Prenestina (via Aquilonia, District V) — concerts and live music from 6:00 PM, with artistic installations
- Acilia Station (District X) — urban cultures: K-pop, breakdance, and rap in the evening
Museums and exhibitions
- Civic Museums and archaeological areas with free admission, 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Free entry also to Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Mattatoio, MACRO, Circus Maximus, Area Sacra of Largo Argentina, Villa of Maxentius
- Concerts by the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia at the Ara Pacis, Capitoline Museums, Palazzo Braschi, and Centrale Montemartini
- Paid temporary exhibitions: "Cartier and the Myth" at the Capitoline Museums and "Impressionism and Beyond" at the Ara Pacis
Cinema and literature
- Screenings of great Italian cinema classics in municipal halls (Casa del Cinema at Villa Borghese, Spazio Scena in Trastevere, MACRO)
- Readings inspired by the Constitution, including "Adele Bei, Constituent Mother" at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni
- Guided tours by the Sovrintendenza Capitolina linked to the articles of the Charter (Villa Borghese, San Lorenzo, Porta Maggiore, Villa Torlonia)
Families and children
- Concert-workshops, puppet shows, and participatory readings in municipal libraries across various districts
Highlights Capodarte 2026
- Over 100 events in all 15 districts of Rome
- Almost all events with free admission
- Edition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Constituent Assembly
- Distribution of thousands of free copies of the Constitution
- Civic Museums and archaeological areas open for free (11:00 AM–8:00 PM)
- Three large stages: Piazza Navona, Rampa Prenestina, Acilia station
Prices Capodarte 2026
Practical information — Capodarte
When
Every January 1st, from morning to night. The 2026 edition took place on Thursday, January 1st, 2026.
Where
A widespread event across all fifteen districts of Rome: museums, theaters, cinemas, libraries, exhibition spaces, and squares. The main locations for the 2026 edition were Piazza Navona, Rampa Prenestina, and the Acilia station square.
Admission
Almost all events are free, as is access to the Civic Museums and archaeological areas (generally from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM). Some temporary exhibitions require a paid ticket.
Getting there
Rome is accessible by train (Termini and Tiburtina stations), by plane (Fiumicino and Ciampino airports), and by car. For travel between venues, public transport is recommended. Full information and the complete program are available at culture.roma.it/romacapodarte or by calling 06 0608.
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Where does it take place — Capodarte
Musei, teatri, cinema, biblioteche e piazze di Roma (evento diffuso)