Events, markets, nativity scenes and lightsChristmas 2026 in Sorrento and on the Sorrento Peninsula
From the tree lighting to Epiphany: every festive event from Vico Equense to Massa Lubrense, with dates, places and tips from people who live here.
At Christmas the Sorrento Peninsula slows down. The beaches empty, the towns light up and life moves back into the squares: illuminated trees, lights along the main streets, wooden huts with local crafts and produce, a nativity scene in every church. It is the time to see the coast as it really is, lived in by the people who call it home, without the summer crowds.
Here you will find the full calendar of the 2026 festive season, updated as the town councils and local associations publish their programmes: the tree lightings in early December, the Christmas markets, the Santa Lucia bonfires on 12 and 13 December, the living nativity scenes, the concerts, New Year's Eve and the Epiphany celebrations that close Christmas on 6 January.
Every event has its own page with date, place, times when known and the source. For events that return every year we show the traditional date until the official programme is out, so always check the event page before you set off.
- 48events in the calendar
- 6towns celebrating
- 31free to attend
- 8nativity scenes and exhibitions
Trees and Christmas lights
The season opens with the lightings: between late November and early December every town switches on its tree in the main square, usually with music, choirs and the town band. In Sorrento the heart of it all is Piazza Tasso, in Vico Equense Piazza Umberto I, in Piano di Sorrento Piazza Cota and in Sant'Agnello Piazza Matteotti.
Christmas markets
The markets of the peninsula are small and carefully chosen: crafts, nativity figures, Christmas sweets and local produce. In Sorrento they run along Corso Italia and through the fourteenth-century cloister of San Francesco, in Sant'Agnello Piazzetta Angri turns into a village of wooden huts, while Vico Equense and Massa Lubrense add games and workshops for families.
Nativity scenes and living nativities
The nativity scene is taken seriously here. There are exhibitions of Neapolitan presepi, such as the one at Villa Fiorentino in Sorrento, trails through the nativity scenes set up in the hamlets of Piano di Sorrento, and living nativities in which a whole village goes back in time with old trades, animals and lights: at Fornacelle, in the hills of Vico Equense, and in the monastery of Monticchio, in Massa Lubrense.
Santa Lucia, the Ceppone and other traditions
Some traditions are centuries old. Around 12 December the Santa Lucia bonfires are lit in Sorrento's Santa Lucia quarter, in Meta and in Mortora: the fire was meant to chase away the darkness of the shortest days. On New Year's Eve the traditional good luck song is sung in the streets and the Ciuccio di Fuoco fireworks show lights up Piazza Tasso, while on 6 January Vico Equense hosts the parade of the Pacchianelle, with hundreds of people dressed as figures from the eighteenth-century nativity scene.
Father Christmas and the Befana
For children there are Father Christmas villages and grottos, the Christmas Garden in Sorrento's Villa Comunale, the long-running treasure hunt along Corso Italia and, on 6 January, the Befana arriving in the squares of almost every town. In Sant'Agnello Father Christmas even climbs down from the rooftops of Piazza Matteotti.
Concerts and shows
Gospel choirs, jazz at the Teatro Tasso, Christmas concerts in churches and ancient cathedrals, tombola evenings and shows in the squares: during the festive weeks there is music and theatre everywhere.
Festive flavours
December is also a month for food lovers: artisan chocolate at Chocoland along Corso Italia in Sorrento, the Villaggio del Gusto in Seiano and the evening dedicated to Provolone del Monaco DOP, the cheese of the Lattari Mountains.
New Year's Eve in the square
On the night of 31 December people celebrate outdoors: in Sorrento with the party in Piazza Tasso and fireworks over the bay of Marina Piccola, in Vico Equense with the concert in Piazza Umberto I. For dinners, parties and gala nights see our dedicated guide, Capodanno a Sorrento.
The Christmas table
A Sorrento Christmas is also something you taste. The festive tray always holds struffoli, little balls of fried dough coated in honey and coloured sprinkles, almond roccocò, sapienze first made in a convent of Poor Clares, mostaccioli and susamielli. The guide has the family recipes, one by one.
The calendar day by day
Every event in date order. Events lasting several days appear on the day they begin.
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- Gran Galà del Provolone del Monaco D.O.P. Vico Equense · until 4 Dec
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- Exhibition "Giuseppe Ercolano e i Maestri del Presepe" Sorrento · until 18 Jan
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- Chocoland Sorrento - Christmas Edition Sorrento · until 8 Dec
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- Lighting of the Christmas Tree and Illuminations - Napul' è Natale Piano di Sorrento
- A Magical Christmas in Sant'Agata - lights switch-on Massa Lubrense · until 29 Dec
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- Lighting of the tree - ViviAmo il Natale Sant'Agnello
- Lighting of the tree in piazza Tasso Sorrento
- Ceppone Festival Piano di Sorrento · until 7 Dec
- Village of Taste in Seiano Vico Equense · until 14 Dec
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- Christmas Treasure Hunt Sorrento · until 5 Jan
- Christmas Markets and Father Christmas's House in piazzetta Angri Sant'Agnello · until 5 Jan
- Exhibition "Il Presepe Napoletano" Vico Equense · until 10 Jan
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- Lights and Songs in Monticchio Massa Lubrense
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- Sorrento Christmas - craft and local produce markets Sorrento · until 21 Dec
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- St Lucy's Bonfire in Mortora Piano di Sorrento
- Suoni DiVini - concert with Nino Buonocore Massa Lubrense
- Ceppone of St Lucy Sorrento · until 13 Dec
- St Lucy's Bonfire Meta · until 13 Dec
- Father Christmas's Village, markets and Vico Fun Village Vico Equense · until 6 Jan
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- Father Christmas's House Piano di Sorrento · until 14 Dec
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- Monte Faito tourist train among the artisan nativity scenes Vico Equense · until 28 Dec
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- The Christmas Garden Sorrento · until 7 Jan
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- Mercantin' in Chiostro Sorrento · until 21 Dec
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- Sorrento Jazz - Stevie Biondi Sorrento
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- Merry ChristMassa Massa Lubrense · until 21 Dec
- Father Christmas's Village Meta · until 21 Dec
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- Waiting for Christmas in Meta Meta
- Father Christmas comes down from the rooftops Sant'Agnello
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- Artistic Neapolitan Nativity Scene Meta · until 6 Jan
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- St Stephen's Day Marcialonga Massa Lubrense
- Stella d'Argient - Christmas concert Sorrento
- Fornacelle Living Nativity Vico Equense · until 6 Jan
- Trail of nativity scenes across the villages Piano di Sorrento · until 11 Jan
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- Monticchio Living Nativity Massa Lubrense · until 6 Jan
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- Canzone de lo Capo d'Anno Massa Lubrense · until 31 Dec
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- New Year's Song and Ciuccio di Fuoco Sorrento
- New Year's Eve in the Square Vico Equense · until 1 Jan
- New Year's Eve in piazza Tasso and fireworks at Marina Piccola Sorrento · until 1 Jan
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- New Year greetings in the square Sant'Agnello
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- Meta Christmas Lottery and tombola Meta
- The Befana at the Torrione and the Befana in the Squares Massa Lubrense · until 6 Jan
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- The Befana Arrives Sant'Agnello
- Waiting for the Befana Piano di Sorrento
- The Magic of Santa Lucia Meta
- Procession of the Christ Child with shepherds and bagpipers Sorrento
- Parade of the Pacchianelle Vico Equense
Christmas town by town
Every town has its own programme: choose where to start.
Where to stay and eat over the holidays
Not every hotel or restaurant is open in winter: each listing has direct contacts so you can ask about availability with no middlemen. For the journey, read how to get to Sorrento.
Christmas in Sorrento: frequently asked questions
When is the Christmas tree lit in Sorrento?
According to the calendar, the tree in Piazza Tasso is lit on 6 Dec 2026. Other tree lightings on the peninsula: Lighting of the Tree and Illuminations - L'Incanto del Natale (Vico Equense, 3 Dec 2026); Lighting of the Christmas Tree and Illuminations - Napul' è Natale (Piano di Sorrento, 5 Dec 2026); A Magical Christmas in Sant'Agata - lights switch-on (Massa Lubrense, 5 Dec – 29 Dec 2026); Lighting of the tree - ViviAmo il Natale (Sant'Agnello, 6 Dec 2026).
Are there Christmas markets in Sorrento?
Yes. The markets in the calendar are: Christmas Markets and Father Christmas's House in piazzetta Angri (Sant'Agnello, 7 Dec 2026 – 5 Jan 2027); Sorrento Christmas - craft and local produce markets (Sorrento, 9 Dec – 21 Dec 2026); Father Christmas's Village, markets and Vico Fun Village (Vico Equense, 12 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027); Mercantin' in Chiostro (Sorrento, 16 Dec – 21 Dec 2026); Merry ChristMassa (Massa Lubrense, 20 Dec – 21 Dec 2026).
Where can I see a living nativity scene on the Sorrento Peninsula?
Living nativities, trails and exhibitions in the calendar: Fornacelle Living Nativity (Vico Equense, 26 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027); Monticchio Living Nativity (Massa Lubrense, 27 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027); Exhibition "Giuseppe Ercolano e i Maestri del Presepe" (Sorrento, 1 Dec 2026 – 18 Jan 2027); Exhibition "Il Presepe Napoletano" (Vico Equense, 7 Dec 2026 – 10 Jan 2027); Monte Faito tourist train among the artisan nativity scenes (Vico Equense, 14 Dec – 28 Dec 2026); Artistic Neapolitan Nativity Scene (Meta, 25 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027).
What is the Santa Lucia bonfire?
It is a very old tradition: on the eve of the feast, 12 December, a large bonfire is lit to welcome back the light after the shortest days of the year. In the calendar: Ceppone Festival (Piano di Sorrento, 6 Dec – 7 Dec 2026); St Lucy's Bonfire in Mortora (Piano di Sorrento, 12 Dec 2026); Ceppone of St Lucy (Sorrento, 12 Dec – 13 Dec 2026); St Lucy's Bonfire (Meta, 12 Dec – 13 Dec 2026).
Where to celebrate New Year's Eve on the Sorrento Peninsula?
In the square: New Year's Eve in the Square (Vico Equense, 31 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027); New Year's Eve in piazza Tasso and fireworks at Marina Piccola (Sorrento, 31 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027); New Year greetings in the square (Sant'Agnello, 1 Jan 2027). For dinners and parties in restaurants and clubs see the guide Capodanno a Sorrento.
When does the festive season end?
With Epiphany on 6 January: The Befana Arrives (Sant'Agnello, 6 Jan 2027); Waiting for the Befana (Piano di Sorrento, 6 Jan 2027); The Magic of Santa Lucia (Meta, 6 Jan 2027); Procession of the Christ Child with shepherds and bagpipers (Sorrento, 6 Jan 2027); Parade of the Pacchianelle (Vico Equense, 6 Jan 2027).
What are the Christmas sweets of Sorrento?
Struffoli, roccocò, sapienze, mostaccioli and susamielli: the guide has the traditional recipes.
Are the Christmas events free?
Of the events in the calendar, 31 are listed as free to attend. For the others check the event page, which also shows the source.
