Planning
New Year in Puglia: a week in Brindisi from Christmas to the Epiphany
Quick answer
Between 26 December and 6 January Puglia is at its most festive and its most relaxed. In the last edition Brindisi greeted the new year with a New Year's Day dip in the harbour and a concert at the Teatro Verdi, Ostuni held free concerts in Piazza della Libertà from 29 to 31 December, and the living nativities and Christmas markets stayed open until the Epiphany on 6 January.
| New Year's Eve 2026 | Thursday 31 December |
|---|---|
| Epiphany | Wednesday 6 January 2027 |
| Free concerts in Ostuni | 29 to 31 December in the last edition |
| New Year's Day in Brindisi | Dip in the sea and a concert at the Teatro Verdi |
| Last living nativity evenings | Up to 6 January |
| Weather | About 7 to 13°C |
Why spend New Year in Puglia?
The days between Christmas and the Epiphany are when Puglia celebrates at home. The streets are lit, the squares have concerts, families eat together for hours, and the region is still almost empty of tourists. It is mild enough to have lunch outside on a sunny day.
In the calendar for 2026 to 2027, New Year's Eve falls on a Thursday and the Epiphany on a Wednesday, so a week from Saturday 26 December to Saturday 2 January, or from 30 December to 6 January, works well. From Brindisi you have the city, the Valle d'Itria and Lecce within an hour.
New Year's Eve in Brindisi and nearby
These were the main events of the last edition. The 2026 programmes come out in December, so check before you plan around them.
- Ostuni: free concerts in Piazza della Libertà from 29 to 31 December, last year with Vinicio Capossela among the names.
- Francavilla Fontana: Capodanno in piazza, a New Year's Eve party in the main square.
- Mesagne: the Capodanno dei Popoli on the afternoon of 31 December.
- Oria: a winter show in Piazza Manfredi on 31 December.
- Brindisi: on 1 January, the Tuffo di Capodanno, a New Year's Day dip in the sea at Seno di Ponente, and a New Year's concert at the Teatro Verdi.
Most people in Puglia spend the night itself at a long dinner, the cenone, at home or in a restaurant, then go out after midnight. At midnight you will hear and see fireworks from balconies and rooftops all over town.
A week from Christmas to the Epiphany
26 December: Santo Stefano and the first living nativity
Start with the living nativity of Pezze di Greco, near Fasano, in a rocky ravine. It opens in the late afternoon. See our guide to Christmas in Puglia for all the nativity scenes.
27 to 29 December: the Valle d'Itria and Lecce
Ostuni and Cisternino keep their markets and lights until the Epiphany, and Lecce is at its best on a sunny winter morning. Our day trips from Brindisi have the travel times.
30 and 31 December: the sea and the cenone
Walk the waterfront and take the little boat to the Monumento al Marinaio, or drive to Torre Guaceto for a walk on an empty beach. Book your New Year's Eve dinner well ahead, or cook it yourself with fish from the market.
1 January: the dip and the concert
Watch, or join, the New Year's Day dip at Seno di Ponente, then a long lunch with lentils, which in Italy bring money for the year.
5 and 6 January: the Befana and the Magi
The season closes with the Epiphany. In the last edition Brindisi had the Befana and a procession of the Three Kings, San Pietro Vernotico a procession of the Magi on the afternoon of 6 January, and Pezze di Greco and Cisternino their last living nativity evenings.
Eating on New Year's Eve in Puglia
The cenone of New Year's Eve is long: seafood starters, pasta, fish or meat, and at midnight lentils and cotechino, a rich pork sausage, for luck. Then spumante and the sweets left from Christmas, pettole and cartellate.
Restaurant menus for 31 December are fixed and usually booked out by mid-December. If you want a calmer night, cook at home and toast at midnight outside. Our guides to what to eat in Brindisi and wineries near Brindisi help with the shopping list.
Practical tips for New Year
- Book early. The days around New Year are the busiest of the winter, for homes and for restaurants.
- 1 January is quiet. Shops are closed, many restaurants open only for lunch, and buses and trains run a holiday timetable.
- Bring layers. About 7 to 13°C, with sunny days and some rain. Evenings outside need a warm jacket.
- Fly in and out of Brindisi. The airport is 10 minutes from the old town. See from the airport to the city centre.
New Year at BDS House
BDS House is a whole home for up to six in Brindisi's old town, with two private terraces above the rooftops. On New Year's Eve that means a toast at midnight under the sky, with the fireworks of the whole town around you, and a full kitchen for the cenone.
Book directly with us and an Apulian welcome box is waiting when you arrive. Check your dates here.
Questions travellers ask
What is there to do on New Year's Eve in Puglia?
Most towns hold a concert or a party in the main square. In the last edition Ostuni had free concerts from 29 to 31 December, Francavilla Fontana a party in the square and Mesagne the Capodanno dei Popoli. Many people have a long dinner first.
What happens in Brindisi on New Year's Day?
In the last edition Brindisi held the Tuffo di Capodanno, a New Year's Day dip in the sea at Seno di Ponente, and a New Year's concert at the Teatro Verdi.
Is it warm in Puglia at New Year?
It is mild rather than warm: about 7°C at night and 13°C by day, with sunny days and some rain. You can walk and sit outside at lunchtime, but evenings need a warm jacket.
What do Italians eat on New Year's Eve?
A long dinner with seafood and pasta, and at midnight lentils and cotechino, which are said to bring money and luck in the new year.
When does the Christmas season end in Puglia?
On 6 January, the Epiphany, with the Befana and processions of the Three Kings. Living nativities and markets usually stay open until then.
Do I need to book New Year's Eve dinner?
Yes. Restaurants serve fixed menus on 31 December and are usually booked out by mid-December.
Sources and further reading
- Comune di Brindisi: news and events
- Appulia: Christmas and New Year in Brindisi 2025/26
- Events in the Brindisi province at Christmas and New Year
- Presepe Vivente Pezze di Greco
Times and prices are approximate and change by season. Last checked on 16 October 2026.
