Transport strikes throughout the month
Transport strikes are a regular occurrence in Italy, as most months of the year see at least two or three walkouts.
March 2026 will be no exception – several protests are planned in the coming weeks, from a strike by Rome-based air traffic controllers on Saturday, March 7th to a general strike of all public and private sector workers on Monday, March 9th.
These demonstrations will be followed by 24-hour walkout of ground services and cargo handling staff at Milan’s Malpensa and Linate airports on Wednesday, March 18th.
READ ALSO: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in March 2026
Keep up with all the latest news about transport strikes, delays and disruption in Italy in The Local's strike news section.
Winter sales end
Italian law dictates that shops are allowed just two big saldi, or sales, a year – one in the summer, one in the winter – with dates varying according to region.
Italy’s popular winter sales (saldi invernali) ended in February for six Italian regions (Bolzano, Lazio, Liguria, Piedmont, Puglia and Veneto) but will continue into at least part of March in the rest of the country.
Most regions’ sales wrap up on Tuesday, March 3rd, including those in Abruzzo, Calabria, Campania, Lombardy, Molise, Sardinia, Tuscany and Umbria.
The winter sales end on Sunday, March 1st in the regions of Basilicata and Le Marche, on Sunday, March 15th in Sicily, and on Tuesday, March 31st in Valle d'Aosta and Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics Games
The Olympic Games continue through March, with the Paralympic Winter Games scheduled from Friday March 6th to Sunday March 15th.
Get more information on the official website.
READ ALSO: Mark your calendar: Italy's biggest cultural events in 2026
International Women’s Day
March 8th is International Women’s Day (or Festa della Donna in Italian) and, though it’s not an official national holiday in Italy, it’s recognised in the form of celebrations and parades all around the country.
You can also expect to see Italian florists work overtime on the day as, according to a uniquely Italian tradition, men give the women in their families yellow mimosa flowers as a token of appreciation.
Hearing on citizenship by descent law change
Italy's Constitutional Court will rule on whether a law change that blocked thousands from claiming citizenship by descent should stand, after challenges from Italian nationals abroad.
The court in Rome set the date for a public hearing on Wednesday, March 11th to examine the controversial law change.
READ ALSO: Italy's planned changes to immigration and citizenship rules in 2026
Deadline to file employees' earnings
March 16th is this year’s deadline for employers to file their workers’ earnings, which involves filling out and submitting the Certificazione Unica (Unified Certification).
Employers must file earnings of both salaried employees and self-employed workers (partita iva holders) every year, though the deadline for filing the self-employed workers' earnings declaration is April 30th, and there is a third deadline on November 2nd for "exclusively exempt or non-declarable income".
READ ALSO: The 2026 Italian tax deadlines to remember
National Unity Day
Though it isn’t an official holiday, meaning you won’t get time off work, March 17th is one of the most patriotic dates on the Italian calendar, as the country celebrates the Day of National Unity, Giornata dell’Unità Nazionale, recognising the day the Kingdom of Italy was officially founded in 1861.
Official ceremonies are held every year to mark the occasion, including the laying of a laurel wreath before Rome’s Altare della Patria monument by the president.
READ ALSO: Why does Italy celebrate National Unity Day on March 17th?
Father’s Day
While most countries in the world, including English-speaking ones, celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June, Italy does so on March 19th.
That’s because March 19th marks the Feast of Saint Joseph – the patron of family men, according to Catholic tradition.
Father’s Day stopped being a public holiday in Italy in 1977, but it’s still widely celebrated today, with Italian children giving their fathers small gifts and families eating homemade sweets known as dolci di San Giuseppe.
Spring equinox
The spring equinox, which falls on Friday March 20th this year, will mark the first day of spring in the earth’s northern hemisphere.
After the equinox, daytime will gradually increase up until the summer solstice on June 21st.
Rome Marathon
Taking place on March 22nd, the annual Rome Marathon will see participants run some of the capital’s most instantly recognizable sites, from Piazza di Spagna to Castel Sant’Angelo and the Vatican.
Referendum on justice reform
On March 22nd–23rd, Italy will hold a referendum on major changes to the justice system.
Voters must decide whether to separate the career paths of judges and prosecutors, preventing them from switching roles during their careers and splitting Italy's judicial self-governing body into two separate councils.
READ ALSO: Meloni's big milestone and citizenship clashes: What's in store for Italian politics in 2026
Clocks go forward
Italy will make the switch to Daylight Savings Time (also known as ora legale in Italian) at 2am on Sunday March 29th.
Clocks will jump forward by one hour, meaning a lost hour of sleep but one more hour of sunlight during the day.
Palm Sunday
Holy Week starts on Sunday March 29th with Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter.
New Italy flight routes
Milan's Malpensa airport is getting three new international flight routes this month.
American Airlines will operate a new year-round daily service between Miami and Milan from Sunday, March 29th.
READ ALSO: The new flights to and from Italy in 2026
Meanwhile Ryanair will begin operating twice-weekly flights between Milan and Edinburgh starting on Monday, March 30th, and South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines will operate three weekly flights between Milan and Seoul starting on Tuesday, March 31st.
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