Ancona runs on a reliable calendar of annual events that cluster around summer and Christmas. The Festa del Mare in September is the city’s cultural peak, while the Ancona Jazz Festival in June draws an international crowd. Smaller religious processions, food sagras, and seasonal markets fill the gaps. Here are the main events you can build a trip around.
Read our complete Ancona travel guide for an overview of the city.Ancona Events and Festivals in Spring
Festa di San Ciriaco (May 4)
The feast day of Ancona’s patron saint opens with a morning Mass at the Duomo followed by a procession through the historic center carrying the saint’s relics. The real draw is the evening: the port hosts a nautical parade of decorated fishing boats, and fireworks are launched from a barge in the harbor at 22:00. The waterfront promenade fills with food stalls selling porchetta sandwiches (EUR 5) and olive ascolane (stuffed fried olives, EUR 4 for a cone). This is a local celebration rather than a tourist spectacle, which makes it a genuine slice of Marchigian culture. See our weather by month guide for detailed information. See our best time to visit guide for detailed information.
Ancona Events and Festivals in Summer
Ancona Jazz Festival (June, exact dates vary)
Running since 1973, the Ancona Jazz Festival programs 2-3 weeks of performances across multiple venues. The main stage sets up in Piazza del Plebiscito with free concerts on weekends. Paid shows (EUR 15-25) happen at the Teatro delle Muse and the Mole Vanvitelliana. The lineup mixes international headliners (past acts include Enrico Rava, Stefano Bollani, and Richard Galliano) with emerging Italian talent. Check the schedule at anconajazz.com from March onward. Book tickets online: the intimate Teatro delle Muse shows sell out quickly.
For more information, see our things to do in Ancona.Summer at the Mole (July-August)
The courtyard of the Mole Vanvitelliana transforms into an open-air cinema and concert venue for eight weeks each summer. Films screen in original language with Italian subtitles on Wednesday and Friday nights (EUR 6). The rest of the week alternates between live music (jazz, indie, classical), theater, and DJ sets. The bar serves cocktails and aperitivo plates. Gates open at 19:00, events start at 21:00. Full program published in mid-June at comune.ancona.it.
For more information, see our Ancona neighborhoods guide.Ancona Events and Festivals in Autumn
Festa del Mare (First weekend of September)
Ancona’s Sea Festival is the biggest event of the year, drawing over 100,000 visitors across three days. Friday night launches with a parade of illuminated boats entering the port. Saturday features the Palio del Mare, a rowing competition between the city’s historic quarters, followed by a seafood feast along the Molo Rizzo where local cooperatives serve fritto misto, mussels, and grilled fish at EUR 10-15 per plate. Sunday closes with a fireworks display over the Adriatic at 23:00. The entire port area closes to traffic from Friday evening. Arrive early for a spot along the mole: the best views fill up by 20:00.
For more information, see our where to stay in Ancona.Fiera di San Ciriaco (October 4-7)
This 300-year-old trade fair sprawls across Viale della Vittoria with 200+ stalls selling everything from leather goods to kitchen equipment. It is essentially a giant market cum funfair with carnival rides at the far end. Locals come for the roasted chestnuts (EUR 3 per cone) and the bargaining. The fair runs 9:00-21:00. It is a fun diversion for an hour but not a reason to plan a trip around. See our travel tips for detailed information.
Ancona Events and Festivals in Winter
Christmas Markets and Presepe Vivente (December 8 to January 6)
Ancona’s Christmas season kicks off on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) when the lights go on along Corso Garibaldi and Piazza del Plebiscito. The main Christmas market sets up 20 wooden huts in Piazza Cavour selling crafts, decorations, and vin brule (EUR 3). The stand-out event is the Presepe Vivente (Living Nativity) staged in the Passetto caves on December 26 and January 6, with 100+ costumed participants reenacting biblical scenes across multiple cave chambers. Entry is free but expect queues of 30-40 minutes. Dress warmly: the sea-facing caves get a biting wind.
