Italy calendar countdown
Epiphany is getting closer.
Epiphany falls on 6th January and brings Italy's Christmas season to a close. The Befana is part of many local traditions.
Dates for 2026 to 2028 are listed below
Epiphany in Italy
The date is a public holiday in Italy. Traditions, including the story of the Befana, vary from place to place.
About Epiphany in Italy
Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. In Italian tradition the Befana, a kindly old woman on a broomstick, fills children's stockings with sweets on the night of 5 January, while naughty children may find coal, usually made of sugar. A proverb says Epiphany carries all the festivities away, and Rome's Piazza Navona hosts a Befana market.
When is Epiphany in Italy?
Epiphany is fixed on 6 January every year, falling on a different weekday each year, and it is a national public holiday in Italy.
| Calendar | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | Tuesday 6 January 2026 | Wednesday 6 January 2027 | Thursday 6 January 2028 |
Planning around Epiphany
Shops and banks are closed, so buy groceries in advance, and bring children to a local Befana event, as many towns hold parades or stocking-filling festivities. Work out shifts and childcare cover with the free shift planner, or browse every holiday countdown.
Epiphany questions
How many days until Epiphany in Italy?
The live counter at the top of this page shows the days, hours, minutes and seconds left until the next Epiphany in Italy, using the time zone you choose. The dates for 2026 to 2028 are in the table above.
When is Epiphany in 2027 in Italy?
Epiphany falls on Wednesday 6 January 2027 in Italy.
What does the Italian saying about Epiphany mean?
The saying, L'Epifania tutte le feste porta via, means that Epiphany carries all the holidays away. Since 6 January closes the Christmas season, people use it to mark the return to normal routines.