Christmas in Arezzo – From November 14, 2026, to January 6, 2027, the medieval city of Arezzo will once again shine with the festive glow of Arezzo Città del Natale. Now in its 11th edition, this much-loved Christmas event turns the city’s historic center into a dazzling open-air stage filled with markets, light shows, and attractions for the whole family.
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Highlights of Christmas in Arezzo 2026
Christmas in Arezzo brings a magical blend of art, lights, and festive traditions to one of Tuscany’s most charming cities. Events run Thursday to Sunday each week, and almost everything is within walking distance in the old town.
Read also: Best Arezzo Hotels for a Memorable Stay in Tuscany
Lights in the old town and on the Prato
Every evening from 5:00 pm to midnight, light projections dress up Piazza Grande and the Palazzo Comunale.
At the top of the city, the green expanse known as Il Prato hosts one of the largest and most original light installations in Italy: over 640,000 LED lights across about 8,000 square meters (86,000 sq ft), with very low energy use.
The Prato also brings back the ice-skating rink, the Ferris wheel and Il mercato delle arti, a market of handmade and artistic crafts, perfect for unique Christmas gifts. New for 2026: Eurochocolate sets up a large space dedicated to chocolate.
Fortezza Medicea and Piazza Grande
The magnificent Fortezza Medicea, overlooking the city, hosts Natale in Fortezza until January 6, 2027. Inside is Santa’s House, where Santa welcomes children Thursday to Sunday until December 24.
In Piazza Grande, the Christmas Markets organized by Confcommercio Arezzo return with the Tyrolean Village and its wooden chalets of food and local crafts. The village runs from November 14 to December 27, 2026, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, Thursday to Sunday, plus Monday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 8. From December 17 it opens every day; on December 24 it closes at 6:00 pm, on December 25 it opens at 11:00 am, and on Sunday, December 27, the last day, it closes at 8:00 pm.
One of the chalets belongs to Eurochocolate, with treats by Costruttori di Dolcezze dedicated to Pinocchio, marking 200 years since the birth of Carlo Lorenzini, better known as Carlo Collodi (1826–2026).
Also on Piazza Grande, the Palazzo di Fraternita hosts the Brick House, the home of LEGO® bricks, with workshops for kids until January 6, 2027.
Looking for more markets nearby? See our guide to the Christmas markets in Tuscany.
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Saint Francis exhibition
Christmas in Arezzo is also a chance to see the major exhibition “L’immagine di Francesco – Dal Medioevo al Novecento” (The Image of Francis, from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century), running from October 4, 2026 to January 10, 2027. Marking 800 years since the death of Saint Francis, it traces how the saint has been portrayed from the earliest images to modern times.
The exhibition is split between the Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (Piazza San Francesco, 4) and the former Church of Sant’Ignazio (Via Giosuè Carducci, 7), curated by Cristina Acidini. Info and tickets on the Fondazione Guido d’Arezzo website.
Christmas all over town
The festive spirit spreads throughout the city. The Cloister of the Library (Via dei Pileati, 8) hosts a changing program of activities, while Piazza San Jacopo and Piazza Risorgimento host a traditional Christmas market with small wooden huts.
Surprise events pop up in many other squares around town all season long.
Plan your visit
Event: Arezzo Città del Natale 2026
Dates: November 14, 2026 – January 6, 2027
Location: Historic center of Arezzo, Tuscany
Days: Thursday to Sunday (the Tyrolean Village opens daily from December 17)
Organizers: Comune di Arezzo and Fondazione Arezzo Intour
Official website: www.arezzocittadelnatale.it
Accommodation: see our selection of hotels in Arezzo or book your stay directly with our partner Booking.com.
If you’re planning to spend Christmas in Tuscany, Arezzo is an unmissable destination — a city where art, light, and tradition come together to create a truly magical holiday experience.
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