St. Stephen's Day in the Old Town: A Free Afternoon Concert
On 26 December, San Marino's Old Town settles into the rhythm of St. Stephen's Day, the Italian name-day equivalent of Boxing Day. The centrepiece is the St. Stephen's Concert (Concerto di Santo Stefano), now in its 41st edition, held at 16.30 and free to attend. The exact venue isn't specified in the official listings, so check the visitsanmarino.com events calendar closer to the date. What you can count on is a long-running civic tradition: four decades of the same concert on the same date, staged in the walled streets of the historic centre. Arrive early, walk the lanes above the plain, and let the afternoon concert anchor your day.
An Evening of Gospel at 21.00
After the afternoon concert, the day continues with "Great & Good Friends" Gospel, a benefit concert in its 2nd edition. It begins at 21.00 on 26 December (with a second performance on 27 December at 18.00), and admission is €18.00. It's the one ticketed event of the day, so plan to book ahead if you want an evening seat. Pair it with a slow dinner in the Old Town between the two concerts and you have a full, unhurried Boxing Day.
The Christmas of Wonders: Markets Through the Festive Season
Boxing Day falls inside The Christmas of Wonders (Il Natale delle Meraviglie), the Christmas market and festive atmosphere that fills San Marino's Old Town from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. It runs daily from 10.30 to 19.00, with shorter hours of 14.30 to 19.00 on 25 December and 1 January, and it's free to enter. On 26 December you get the full day: stalls, lights and crowds in the historic centre, open from morning until early evening. Since the gospel concert starts at 21.00, you can spend the market hours browsing, then move on to the evening performance.
Exhibitions to Fill the Rest of the Day
Two exhibitions remain open over Boxing Day and are worth building into your schedule:
- "I mai visti del Museo di Stato" — runs 31 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, so it's open across the 26th.
- "Sea of Sound" by Mark Francis — opens 4 December 2026 and continues through the period.
Note that several other exhibitions close before Boxing Day: "1876–2026: 150 Years of SUMS in Medals and Stamps," "Le Lire Quadriga" (to 6 November 2026), "Sacred Pop Icons" by Simone Legno (to 22 November 2026) and "Body and Soul" at Palazzo SUMS (to 15 November 2026). If any of those are on your list, plan them earlier in the season rather than on the 26th.
What to Expect on the Day — and Just After
The official calendar lists no parade for 26 December, so plan around the concert, the gospel evening and the market rather than a procession. Published event information may be subject to variation, so confirm times on visitsanmarino.com before you travel. If you're staying into the new year, the Military Band's New Year's Concert follows on 1 January 2027 at 17.00, with tickets at €10.00 — a natural bookend to a San Marino festive stay.
With a free afternoon concert, a ticketed gospel evening and a market running from morning to early evening, 26 December in San Marino rewards a little planning. Check the official events calendar for venue details, book the gospel concert in advance, and build your day around the Old Town.