From 28 November 2026 to 31 January 2027, Siena celebrates the holiday season with “Siena Incanta – Il Natale si accende”, the city’s festive programme linking its squares, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods. Rather than a single event, it is a season lasting two months, so it is worth choosing when to visit based on what you would like to see, from the first lights at the end of November to the night that welcomes 2027.
How the city changes over the festive weeks
The programme opens on Saturday 28 November with the lighting of the illuminations in the historic centre and of the Christmas trees in the districts beyond the city walls. The following day, 29 November, the Christmas markets begin, running until 6 January 2027, and the same date also sees the Mercato Straordinario delle Merci, a special one-day market. From 4 to 8 December, Piazza del Campo hosts the Mercato nel Campo, which we cover in a separate article.
One of the moments most closely tied to Siena’s identity comes on Saturday 12 December, when the city’s Christmas tree is lit together with the Gruppi Piccoli of the seventeen Contrade, the youngest members of Siena’s historic city districts, who take centre stage in the celebration. The next day, Sunday 13 December, the traditional Fiera di Santa Lucia fair returns.
Museums, exhibitions and theatre
The festive season is a good reason to step inside the city’s cultural landmarks. At Santa Maria della Scala, the exhibition “Whispers – A Julian Lennon Retrospective” runs from 4 December to 31 January. The Museo Civico offers a treasure hunt for families on 1 and 30 December and on 5 January, while guided tours of the Sala dei Costumi in the Palazzo Pubblico are scheduled on several dates between December and January, including every day from 28 to 31 December.
The Teatri di Siena programme accompanies the whole season with shows for different audiences, including “Topo Gigio. Il Musical” on 19 and 20 December. Music lovers can attend the concert “O Emmanuel” on 23 December. For children, the programme also features a Family Park from 5 December to 5 January and the Cittadella del Divertimento, a fun area open until 31 January.
New Year’s Eve 2026 and the first day of 2027
On the night of 31 December 2026, as the city welcomes 2027, Piazza del Campo becomes the setting for a shared toast: the programme published by Visit Siena announces a concert by Francesco Gabbani. Times, access arrangements and safety information for the square have not yet been released and should be checked closer to the date. On 1 January 2027, the Teatri di Siena present the New Year’s Symphony Concert, a quieter way to begin the year.
Tips for planning your visit
The historic centre is best explored on foot, and on the busiest days, such as 8 December and New Year’s Eve, crowds increase: arriving early and booking your accommodation well in advance make everything easier. For shows, exhibitions and guided tours, it is worth checking whether a reservation is required. Siena also makes an ideal base for a few days in the surrounding province, alternating evenings in the city with the hills nearby.
The programme may change: for dates, times and updates, please refer to Visit Siena’s official Christmas page.
