Candele a Candelara 2026 opens on Saturday 28 November and accompanies Advent for ten days, until Sunday 20 December, in the medieval village of Candelara, seven kilometres from Pesaro. It's the twenty-third edition of a Christmas market quite unlike any other, dedicated entirely to candles, and this year it has been recognised as a Quality Event by the Unione Pro Loco d'Italia. Sky TG24, in its selection of Italy's most beautiful Christmas markets, called it the most evocative: and anyone who's been will tell you that's no exaggeration. The full programme is on the Candelara Pro Loco website.
When is Candele a Candelara 2026: dates and times
The festival runs on weekends and during the Immaculate Conception long weekend, from 10am to 8pm:
- Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November
- from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 December, four days running for the long weekend
- Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December
- Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December
The moment not to miss is at dusk: at 5.30pm and 6.30pm the electric lighting switches off for fifteen minutes, and Candelara is plunged into darkness, lit only by the flickering flames along the walls and in the alleyways.
How much does it cost to get in
Entry involves a contribution to the Pro Loco: 4 euros for those arriving before 1pm and 6 euros in the afternoon. Children under ten go free. It's worth knowing before you set off: arriving in the morning costs less and you can wander around more calmly, while the afternoon is the busiest time but also when the lights go off.
What to see at Candele a Candelara
The candle market
At the heart of the festival is the Christmas market in the old village, the first in Italy dedicated solely to candles. This isn't by chance: the village owes its very name to candles, which for around two centuries have also featured on its coat of arms. Among the stalls you can watch how candles were made in the Middle Ages, using beeswax, and along the village's main street wrought-iron silhouettes, covered with hundreds of small candles, depict the figures of the nativity scene.
The children's Christmas village
Candelara is a festival designed with families in mind too. Within the walls is the Christmas Village with Santa's little house, where children can deliver their letters, traditional wooden games and the Elves' Workshop, with clay, wax, paper and wood workshops in the Sala del Capitano (Captain's Hall). Light-up stilt walkers, jugglers, bagpipers and Santa's band parade through the streets.
The little train and the villas nearby
For those who want to explore further afield there's the Candle Train, which takes a loop around the village and surrounding area and, on request, brings visitors to guided tours of the area's historic villas, such as the sixteenth-century Villa Berloni. From the hilltop, at 180 metres, on clear days the view stretches from the sea to the Apennines.
How to get to Candelara
The organisers' advice is to leave your car in Pesaro and travel up on the free shuttle bus, which departs every hour from 10am to 7pm from various stops in town, including the railway station, and runs every half hour on holiday afternoons. The return service runs every hour until 8pm. Stops and timetables are on the Candele a Candelara shuttle bus page. Those travelling from further afield can reach Pesaro by train on the Adriatic line and catch the shuttle right outside the station.
A trip to the surrounding area: Pesaro and Urbino
Candelara makes for a perfect weekend getaway. Pesaro, the city of Rossini, is just a stone's throw away, with its winter seafront and historic centre. Less than an hour away is Urbino, a Renaissance city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the Palazzo Ducale, which houses the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche. Other ideas for the province of Pesaro and Urbino can be found on the official Turismo Marche portal.
Our own trip: Le Marche told first-hand
Le Marche is one of the regions we've covered with particular affection on Una gita fuoriporta. In the eighth season we visited the Monti Azzurri, among the villages and traditions of the inland areas, and before that along the coast, among the beaches of Numana and Conero. It's a region that thrives on village festivals and communities that keep their traditions alive, and Candelara is a perfect example of this: an entire village that, for a few minutes, gives up electric light to recall what Christmas used to be like.
Those looking for other Christmas markets can read our guide to Christmas markets 2026 in Alto Adige, while more ideas for the region can be found on our Le Marche page.
Practical tips for Candele a Candelara 2026
- Arrive before 5pm: that way you'll find a spot along the walls to watch the 5.30pm lights-off moment.
- Stay for the second switch-off: at 6.30pm you can see the festival from another corner of the village.
- Use the shuttle bus: parking near the village is limited and fills up quickly.
- Go in the morning to save money: before 1pm tickets cost 4 euros instead of 6.
- Dress warmly: after sunset it gets cold up in the hills, especially in December.
- Choose the Immaculate Conception long weekend: from 5 to 8 December the festival runs for four days in a row.
And to plan your next destination, on our site you'll find all the episodes of Una gita fuoriporta available to watch on demand.
Frequently asked questions about Candele a Candelara 2026
When is Candele a Candelara 2026?
On 28 and 29 November and 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December 2026, from 10am to 8pm.
What time do the lights go off in Candelara?
At 5.30pm and 6.30pm, for fifteen minutes each time.
How much does it cost to get into Candele a Candelara?
4 euros before 1pm and 6 euros afterwards. Children under ten go free.
Where is Candelara?
It's a hamlet of Pesaro, in Le Marche, seven kilometres from the town centre. There's a free shuttle bus from Pesaro.