Halloween 2026 in Italy falls on Saturday 31 October, on the eve of All Saints' Day (Sunday 1 November) and the Commemoration of the Dead (Monday 2 November). It's a perfect calendar for a three-day trip away, perhaps raising a toast with vino novello, on sale from 30 October. It's also the perfect time to discover that the night between 31 October and 2 November has, for centuries, been celebrated in our villages with rituals, sweets and candles that have far more in common with carved pumpkins than you might think.
Is Halloween an Italian festival? The roots of the night of the dead
Halloween comes from the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon world: the name derives from All Hallows' Eve, the eve of All Saints. But in many Italian regions, the nights of late October have long been dedicated to remembering the dead, with traditions that blend the sacred and the popular: children knocking on doors, bone-shaped sweets, candles on windowsills to light the way for souls. Here are the places where these stories are still alive.
Where to go for Halloween in Italy: five destinations steeped in history and tradition
Triora, the village of witches (Liguria)
In the hinterland of Sanremo, in the Argentina Valley, Triora owes its fame to a dark chapter of history: between 1587 and 1589, following famines and disease, dozens of local women were accused of witchcraft and put on trial. Today the village tells that story through its Ethnographic and Witchcraft Museum (information on the Triora Town Council website), its stone alleyways and the sites linked to the trials. These days, it's one of Italy's most sought-after Halloween destinations.
Corinaldo and the Festa delle Streghe, the Witches' Festival (Marche)
In the Marche, the region we've covered most often, Corinaldo is one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages, enclosed by one of the region's most intact fifteenth-century defensive walls. For years, the village has been known as one of Italy's Halloween capitals thanks to the Festa delle Streghe. It's less than an hour's drive from the coast, so you could combine the visit with an autumn day at the seaside in Numana and the Conero, or head up to the Monti Azzurri. To plan your days, here's a weekend in the Marche.
Sardinia, "Su mortu mortu"
In many Sardinian villages, on the night between 1 and 2 November, children go from house to house asking for a gift "for the souls", using the phrase "Su mortu mortu" or, depending on the area, "is animeddas". They receive nuts, pomegranates, chestnuts and sweets. It's our very own trick-or-treat, long before it arrived from the films.
Sicily, gifts from the dead
In Sicily, 2 November is a festival for children: tradition has it that deceased family members bring gifts to the little ones. Tables are laden with frutta martorana (marzipan fruit), pupi di zucchero (sugar figurines) and "ossa di morto" (bones of the dead), crunchy biscuits made especially for these days. A journey into flavour as much as into festivity.
Calabria, the "Coccalu di muortu"
In Serra San Bruno, in the Calabrian Serre, young people carve pumpkins into skull shapes, known as the "coccalu di muortu", and carry them around the village. A tradition that shows carved pumpkins aren't purely an American import.
How to plan the Halloween and All Saints' bank holiday
- Book early: with Halloween falling on a Saturday and the bank holiday running through to Monday, the most famous villages fill up fast.
- Check the programme: dates and times of festivities change every year, so always check the websites of local councils and tourist boards.
- Arrive while there's still light: after the clocks change, darkness falls earlier, so it's best to visit villages in the afternoon and enjoy the evening.
- Respect the places you visit: All Saints' Day and 2 November are days of reflection, especially near churches and cemeteries.
Halloween without the fright: a medieval village for the whole family
Those who prefer atmosphere to costumes can opt for a historic centre that looks like something out of a fairy tale at night. Take the medieval quarter of San Pellegrino in Viterbo (here's our guide on what to see in Viterbo), which we featured in the episode on Viterbo and its thermal baths: profferli (external staircases), arches and stone alleyways, with the thermal baths just minutes away to warm up after your stroll.
And to choose your next destination, on our website you'll find all the episodes of Una Gita Fuoriporta available to watch on demand.
Frequently asked questions about Halloween 2026 in Italy
When is Halloween 2026?
Halloween is on 31 October, and in 2026 it falls on a Saturday. The following day is All Saints' Day, and Monday 2 November is the Commemoration of the Dead.
Which is the village of witches in Italy?
The most famous is Triora, in the province of Imperia, linked to the witchcraft trials of 1587-1589. It's home to the Ethnographic and Witchcraft Museum.
Where is Halloween celebrated in the Marche?
The best-known village is Corinaldo, in the province of Ancona, famous for its Festa delle Streghe. Check the official channels for 2026 dates.
Is there an Italian version of Halloween?
Yes: in Sardinia, children ask for gifts with "Su mortu mortu", in Sicily the dead bring presents on 2 November, and in Calabria, in Serra San Bruno, pumpkins are carved for the "coccalu di muortu".