Italy marks Festa della Repubblica with public holiday on 2 June

National holiday marked with military parade in Rome. Italy celebrates Festa della Repubblica, Republic Day, with a national public holiday on Tuesday 2 June 2026. This year marks the 80th edition of the annual event which commemorates the day in 1946 when Italians voted in favour of a republic and against the monarchy which had been discredited during world war two. Italy's public holidays: a quick guide The national event will see President Sergio Mattarella lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Rome's Vittoriano monument in Piazza Venezia on the morning of 2 June. Rome will host a military parade on 2 June. Photo credit: davide bonaldo / Shutterstock.com.   After the president lays the wreath, one of the most popular events associated with Festa della Repubblica in Rome takes place: a spectacular aeronautical display by the Frecce Tricolori jets flying in formation over the city centre, emitting plumes with the red, white and green colours of the Italian flag. A major military parade will be held along Via dei Fori Imperiali, against the backdrop of the Colosseum, comprising thousands of members of Italy’s army, navy and police forces. President Mattarella travelling in the vintage Lancia Flaminia car on 2 June as per tradition.   Another impressive spectacle involves teams of firefighters unfurling a giant Italian tricolour at the Colosseum. The mounted Carabinieri police led by their little mascot dog Briciola at the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside the Quirinal Palace in Rome as part of Italy's celebrations to mark Festa della Repubblica. #2giugno pic.twitter.com/G4PW4tl0G6— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) June 1, 2024 The parade will result in numerous street closures and traffic restrictions in the centre.  President Mattarella marking Festa della Repubblica in 2022. Photo Quirinale.   For the fourth year in a row, Italy will mark Festa della Repubblica by opening state museums and archaeological sites for free on 2 June. Festa della Repubblica falls on a Tuesday in 2025, with many Italians taking the Monday off to enjoy a long "ponte" weekend, and resulting in the closure of public offices, schools and supermarkets. Image: Firefighters unfurling a giant Italian tricolour at the Colosseum. Photo Wanted in Rome, 2 June 2025.