Rome sees in the new year at the Circus Maximus: a free concert on the flat where the chariots ran, with the Palatino on one side and the sky over the whole of it. Here is how to be there without spending the night queueing.
Book a table at ROSSO — Viale Aventino 32, by the Circus Maximus.
Why the Circus Maximus and not a piazza
It is the only space in the centre of Rome big enough to hold a crowd that size without closing the city. It is flat, it is open, and it has the Palatino as a backdrop — which is why the images travel.
The concert is free and unticketed. That means no seats, no allocated places, and an arrival time that matters more than anything else.
Getting there and getting out
- Arrive early. The flat fills from mid-evening. If you want to be near the stage, plan to be there before dinner rather than after.
- Metro B, Circo Massimo stop. It serves the venue directly, and it is the first thing to close if the crowd builds. Have a walking plan.
- Leaving takes an hour. Everyone moves at once and the streets funnel. Somewhere to sit down nearby is worth more than a taxi you will not get.
- Dress for standing still. January in Rome is cold once you stop moving.
Dinner before, and somewhere warm after
The sensible order is dinner first, concert second: eat at 9, walk down at 11, be in the open for midnight. Restaurants on the Aventino run their New Year service to that rhythm — the details are in New Year’s Eve dinner in Rome.
We are at Viale Aventino 32, two minutes from the entrance, with the cocktail bar open after dinner. It is the difference between ending the night somewhere and ending it on a pavement.
Book a table or call +39 342 189 9629. Kitchen open until midnight.
If you are in Rome for the days around it
1 January is quiet: almost everything is shut until the evening. The 6th, Epiphany, is another holiday. Between them the city is at its emptiest and best for walking — the Circus Maximus, the Terme di Caracalla and the Aventino in one morning, with nobody in the way.
Frequently asked questions
Has the 2027 programme been confirmed?
Not yet. In recent years Rome has announced it in the final weeks of December. We update this page as soon as it is official.
Do I need a ticket for the New Year’s Eve concert at the Circus Maximus?
No. It is free and unticketed, which is also why arriving early matters: there are no allocated places.
What time should I get there?
If you want to be near the stage, before 10pm. If you are happy further back with a clear view of the sky, 11.30pm is enough.
Is the metro open?
Line B runs late on 31 December, but stations serving the event can close temporarily for crowd control. Assume you may walk the last part.
Where can I eat before?
On the Aventino, a few minutes from the venue. Book a 9pm sitting so you are finished in time to walk down.
Is anything open on 1 January?
Very little before evening. Plan the first of January as a walking day and book dinner rather than lunch.
Book your table — open every day from 8am, kitchen until midnight, bar until 1am.
More practical questions — hours, parking, dogs, accessibility — in our FAQ.
