What’s on in Rome this month?
National celebrations, opera concerts, outdoor cinema and temporary exhibitions. There’s so much to do in Rome this June 2026!
Without wasting a lot of time, let’s dive into these super exciting things to explore in the city! 🤩
Things to do in Rome in June 2026
Republic Day – June 2nd
This year Italy celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic.
Every June 2nd, in the morning, the Italian President holds a ceremony at the Vittoriano (Altar of the Fatherland) by placing a crown of laurel to the unknown soldier, who represents all the Italian soldiers who lost their lives during WWI.
That’s when the Frecce Tricolore make their first flight. The acrobatic fleet of military aircrafts flies on top of the Vittoriano right when the president lays the crown of leaves on the altar! Being there in person is quite a sensation.
Then the parade of the armed forces starts marching from the Colosseum, along via dei Fori Imperiali and to Piazza Venezia.
You can spot the Frecce Tricolore from any high viewpoint of the city (eg. Gianicolo hill, Pincio hill). For closer views, go to Piazza Venezia or by the Colosseum. Consider that many streets will be closed during that day, so try to be there in advance.
Last year the Frecce Tricolore flew at 9:15AM (start of the ceremony) and then again at 12:00PM (end of the ceremony).
Treasures of the Pharaoh – until June 14th
Last chance to discover some of the most precious treasures of ancient Egyptian princesses, pharaohs, and their administrative staff.
This temporary exhibition comes with a free audio guide, telling you the stories behind over 130 precious treasures from the most important Egyptian museums in the world.
From the small ushabti (little statues that accompanied the mummies and that were supposed to do administrative work for the pharaoh in the afterlife) to the incredibly precious gold jewels dating back to 3000 BC, this is a truly fascinating glimpse into ancient Egypt.
Having all these treasures into one place from many parts of the world and woven together with the stories of the audio guide, is what we loved about this exhibition. Totally recommend!
The exhibition will be at the Scuderie del Quirinale until June 14th. More info here.
Cinema in Piazza – outdoor cinema every night at 9:15PM
Every summer Rome offers a lot of outdoor events, such as outdoor cinemas!
The Piccolo America association returns this month with the so-called “Cinema in Piazza” (cinema in the square).
There will be three locations: Piazza San Cosimato in Trastevere, Monte Ciocci and Cervelletta.
Free entrance, no booking necessary. All the movies start at 9:15PM. Movies will be in original language with Italian subtitles. In case of Italian movies there will be English subtitles.
Here you can find the full program: https://ilcinemainpiazza.it/
Planning a last-minute trip to Rome and didn’t have time to book a tour? Check our remaining availability in the next 20 days here 😉
Opera at Circo Massimo 2026
From June 29th until July 31st, the Circus Maximus will host the Summer events of the Rome Opera. What better place than the ancient Roman chariot race track to enjoy a night at the opera under the stars?
Among the shows there will also be the Gladiator movie by Ridley Scott, with live music from the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma Orchestra and Chorus; the Aida and Romeo and Juliet.
More info on the official website.
Lungo il Tevere (Along the Tiber) – markets and bars along the river
From beginning of June until end of August, “Lungo il Tevere” returns! The Tiber river banks illuminate with lights, music and entertainment.
From 7PM stands of food, drinks and little markets make a really cool background to your stroll along the river. You can find pizza, burgers, seafood and bars.
Free entry, no ticket required. Stands are located between Ponte Sisto (access by Piazza Trilussa, in Trastevere) and Ponte Sublicio.
For more info: http://www.lungoiltevereroma.it/
“Girandola” fireworks by Castel Sant’Angelo – June 29th
This firework show is a re-enactment of an ancient show designed by none other than.. Michelangelo!
He designed this on occasion of the celebration of the patron saints of Rome: St Peter and St Paul, which is celebrated every year on June 29th.
The show was called “Girandola” and it took place every year since the 1500s until the 1800s.
Then it stopped and it was reinstated only in recent years, always on the same date: June 29th. Show usually starts at around 9/9:30PM. We’ll share the exact time when closer to the date.
Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit at the Ara Pacis
Robert Mapplethorpe once said that, had he lived centuries earlier, he would have been a sculptor rather than a photographer. In fact, the feeling you get when looking at his photographs in this exhibition is that you are looking at sculptures rather than pictures.
The muscles, curves, and torsions of the bodies he photographed recall those of Michelangelo’s sculptures, of which Mapplethorpe was a great admirer.
This exhibition at the Ara Pacis is a journey through Mapplethorpe’s creative evolution: from his early collages made from found images (because he could not yet afford photographic equipment) to his use of himself as a model while developing his photographic style. It also explores his relationship with the musician and poet Patti Smith.
The two met as struggling young artists in New York and inspired each other’s careers. Mapplethorpe famously photographed the cover of Smith’s iconic 1975 album Horses, one of the most recognizable album covers in music history.
The exhibition also includes several ancient statues of athletes, referencing the classical sculpture that inspired the work of this iconic photographer.
The exhibition will run until October 4, 2026. More information is available here.
Roma pride 2026 – June 20th
The first Rome Pride took place in 1994 and since then, every year the streets of Rome fill with colors and diversity. On June 20th, DJs, dancers and parade floats will march from Piazza della Repubblica, then by the Colosseum, via dei Fori Imperiali, until Piazza Venezia.
More info here: https://www.romapride.it/
Discover the hidden gems of Rome with us!
If you want to make your June Rome trip special and looking for something fun, unique, personal… you’re in the right place!
Our small group walking tours grew from the legacy of our media content online, meaning that we focus on showing you Rome “behind-the-scenes”.
We explore the iconic neighborhoods of Rome where you get to discover lots of hidden gems and secrets hiding in plain sight, that most tourists miss.
And we do it in small groups only, to keep the experience personal and interactive 😊
Discover more about how our Rome tours work, the best Rome tours or browse all our small-group tours to see the experiences currently available.
