Celebrating Italy’s National Day 2025

Buona Festa della Repubblica!

Italy’s National Day is more than a commemoration of the past — it’s a celebration of values like democracy, resilience, and unity, which resonate across borders.
As Italy commemorates its National Day on June 2, 2025, the occasion provides not only a moment of pride for Italians worldwide but also a valuable opportunity to reflect on and strengthen diplomatic friendships — including the long-standing and evolving relationship between Italy and Thailand.

The Significance of Italy’s National Day
Italy’s National Day, also known as Festa della Repubblica (Festival of the Republic), marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s modern history. On June 2, 1946, following the end of World War II and the fall of Fascism, Italians voted in a national referendum to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. This momentous decision led to the exile of King Umberto II and the birth of the modern Italian Republic. Each year, the day is celebrated with grand military parades in Rome, cultural events across the country, and gatherings of Italian communities abroad.

From special events and free museum openings to shop closures and heavy traffic, here’s what’s happening on Italy’s Republic Day holiday on Monday, June 2nd.

June 2nd is Italy’s Republic Day – a national public holiday commemorating the birth of the Italian Republic as we know it today.

Italy’s Festa della Repubblica marks the date in 1946 when Italians voted in a referendum to abolish the then 85-year-old monarchy, which had fallen out of favour due to its close alignment with Benito Mussolini’s Fascist regime, and establish a democratic republic.

Conveniently, this year’s Republic Day falls on a Monday, meaning that people in Italy will enjoy a three-day weekend.

But, while many around the country will use the Republic Day holiday to get their first taste of summer, beach picnics and idle hours spent under the ombrellone will not be the only thing going on on June 2nd.

Here’s a quick look at what you should expect on that date.

A military parade and trails of tricolore smoke in Rome

As is tradition, the bulk of official Republic Day celebrations will take place in the capital.

At around 9am on Monday, Italian President Sergio Mattarella will pay homage to service members killed in action by laying a laurel wreath at the foot of the Altare della Patria war memorial, in the central Piazza Venezia.

This will be followed by the traditional Republic Day military parade, with hundreds of members of Italy’s armed forces marching down Via dei Fori Imperiali.

Unfortunately, this year’s parade is already sold out, according to Italy’s defence ministry.

If you didn’t manage to get your ticket or live elsewhere in the country, you can still watch the event for free on Rai1 (channel one on Italian TV) or Rai’s online streaming platform RaiPlay at this link.

Celebrations in the capital will end with a spectacular display from Italy’s Frecce Tricolori air force unit, with ten fighter jets set to fly over the city, leaving trails of green, white and red smoke (the colours of Italy’s tricolore flag) in the sky.

Italy’s National Day is more than a commemoration of the past — it’s a celebration of values like democracy, resilience, and unity, which resonate across borders. As we extends its warm congratulations to the people of Italy, the friendship between the two nations continues to serve as a model of mutual respect and multifaceted cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world.

Buona Festa della Repubblica!