La Befana - Feast of the Epiphany 2026

La Befana is one of Italy’s most distinctive traditions and, for many Italian families, the day that matters more than Christmas itself. The feast falls on 6 January, the Christian feast of Epiphany, and has been observed across Italy for centuries. In 2026 it falls on a Tuesday and is a national public holiday — expect banks, government offices, and most shops to be closed.

Who is La Befana?

According to Italian folklore, La Befana is an old woman who flies on a broomstick and delivers gifts to children on the night of 5—6 January, in much the same way Father Christmas operates in Northern European tradition. Good children find their stockings filled with sweets, dried fruit, and small toys; naughty children receive carbone — traditionally a lump of coal, though modern confectionery shops sell edible black sugar lumps that look exactly like coal. The legend holds that La Befana was invited to join the Magi on their journey to Bethlehem but arrived too late; she now wanders Italy every January in search of the Christ child, stopping to leave gifts at every home she passes.

How Italy celebrates

The evening of 5 January sees processions, bonfires, and children’s events in towns and villages across the country. In many regions, effigies of La Befana are burned at midnight — a tradition that marks the end of the Christmas season. On the morning of 6 January, children rush to find their stocking.

Major cities hold public events. Rome’s Piazza Navona hosts a week-long market running up to Epiphany, selling candy, toys, and sweets; the square on 6 January is particularly animated. Venice stages a Regata della Befana on the Grand Canal, in which gondoliers dressed as witches race from Rialto toward Fondamenta della Misericordia. In smaller towns, local confraternities often organise street processions with costumed figures representing the Magi.

Cafes and bars across Italy serve a special Befana drink on 6 January: mulled wine or hot chocolate laced with a splash of spirits, known informally as the “calza della Befana” cocktail.

Practical notes for visitors

Because 6 January is a full public holiday, Italy is quiet in a different way from Christmas Day. Tourist sites, museums, and churches generally remain open — in fact, many museums run special Epiphany opening hours. Restaurants in tourist areas trade as normal, though neighbourhood trattorie may close.

Transport operates on a reduced Sunday/holiday timetable. If you are travelling between cities by train on 6 January, check Trenitalia or Italo schedules in advance as some services run less frequently.

The period around Epiphany is one of the best times to visit Italy: Christmas decorations are still up, cities are far less crowded than at peak summer, and accommodation prices are reasonable. For more on visiting at this time of year, see our guide to Italy in January and our overview of Italy festivals.