Rome Jubilee 2025–2026 — what it means for your visit
How does the 2025 Jubilee affect visits to Rome in 2026?
The Holy Year officially ended 6 January 2026, but its effects persist. Vatican-area accommodation remains elevated in price, advance booking for key sights is still essential (especially around Easter 2026, 5 April), and some infrastructure improvements from the Jubilee benefit 2026 visitors. Demand momentum and elevated pricing carry forward through at least mid-2026.
What is a Jubilee year?
The Catholic Church designates certain years as “Holy Years” or Jubilee years — periods of pilgrimage, indulgences and spiritual renewal, centred on Rome and particularly the Vatican. Jubilee years are traditionally held every 25 years, with extraordinary Jubilees in between at the Pope’s discretion.
The 2025 Jubilee (officially “Iubileum Anno 2025”) ran from 24 December 2024 to 6 January 2026. Pope Francis announced it with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” It was the first Jubilee since 2000 (ordinary) and followed the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015.
The scale of the 2025 Jubilee
The numbers generated by the 2025 Jubilee were significant:
- Approximately 33 million visitors to Rome/Vatican during the Holy Year, compared to ~22 million in 2024 — an increase of roughly 50%
- An average of ~90,000 arrivals per day at peak periods
- St Peter’s Square and Basilica saw a +93% increase in digital activity (booking inquiries, check-ins)
- The Jubilee of Young People (July–August 2025) alone brought an estimated 13 million young pilgrims
- Hotels near the Vatican ran at full capacity for much of July–August 2025, with rates 30–50% above comparable non-Jubilee periods
Special Jubilee pilgrimages were organised throughout the year — the Jubilee of Families, Jubilee of Volunteers, Jubilee of Elderly, among others — each bringing concentrated waves of visitors to specific Rome sites.
What changed in Rome during the Jubilee
Infrastructure upgrades
The Jubilee triggered significant investment in Rome’s infrastructure. The city spent several hundred million euros on:
- Restoration and repaving of major pedestrian routes (the “Jubilee roads” connecting the four basilicas — St Peter’s, St John Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, St Paul’s Outside the Walls)
- Renovation of Piazza Pia (the large square between Castel Sant’Angelo and St Peter’s, now a pedestrianised zone)
- Upgrades to lighting, public toilets and signage on key pilgrimage routes
- Restoration work on facades and pavements in the historic centre
These improvements benefit 2026 visitors — particularly the Piazza Pia renovation, which makes the approach to St Peter’s considerably more pleasant.
Tourist tax and ZTL increases
The Rome municipality raised the per-night tourist tax and ZTL zone entry prices in 2025, partly to fund Jubilee infrastructure costs. These higher rates remain in effect in 2026.
Vatican digital booking system
The Vatican significantly upgraded its online booking infrastructure during the Jubilee to handle higher volumes. The result for 2026 visitors is a more functional booking experience, though demand for the most popular time slots at the Vatican Museums remains high.
What the Jubilee aftermath means for 2026 visitors
Accommodation pricing
Hotel prices in Vatican-adjacent areas (Prati, Borgo, the strip between Termini and St Peter’s) remain elevated versus pre-Jubilee 2024 baselines. The demand carryover is most pronounced for:
- Easter 2026 (5 April): Easter is a significant pilgrimage moment every year, and Easter 2026 (the first Easter after the Holy Year) is attracting elevated pilgrimage demand. Book Vatican-area accommodation for Easter week by January 2026 if you haven’t already.
- Summer 2026: The elevated visibility of Rome following the Jubilee’s media coverage pushes summer demand higher than 2024 comparable.
For visitors with flexibility, the Jubilee’s best legacy is that mid-January through March 2026 shows relatively normal pricing — the post-Jubilee “hangover” period when pilgrim demand has subsided but before the spring tourism wave begins.
Advance booking requirements
The Jubilee accelerated Rome’s shift to mandatory advance booking for its major attractions. In 2026, these booking requirements remain:
- Colosseum: Timed entry reservation is mandatory (including for Roma Pass holders — the Pass covers the cost but not the slot). Book on the official Colosseo site 3–4 weeks ahead in spring/summer.
- Borghese Gallery: Still 180 visitors per 2-hour slot, still requires booking roughly 10 days ahead when slots open. Check the official site daily if your desired date is full.
- Vatican Museums: Book official timed entry 2–4 weeks ahead in high season. Jubilee-era third-party operators still have reserved entry allocations through licensed tour operators.
- St Peter’s Basilica: Free entry, but security queues are long. Early morning (before 08:00) significantly reduces wait time.
The Jubilee’s gifts to 2026 visitors
Despite the higher prices and crowding, the Jubilee left several genuine benefits:
Restored piazzas and streets: Piazza Pia, the Lungotevere (Tiber embankment), and several pedestrian routes are in better condition than they have been in decades.
The four basilicas experience: The restored pilgrimage routes between the four papal basilicas create a more walkable and pleasant circuit than before the Jubilee investment. This is an excellent walking itinerary even for non-religious visitors — the churches themselves contain extraordinary art.
Improved Vatican logistics: The Vatican’s upgraded digital booking system and physical crowd management infrastructure are more efficient than 2024. Skip-the-line entries flow better; the Sistine Chapel visitor management has improved.
Planning your 2026 visit with Jubilee context
Book early: For any visit from March through October 2026, book major attractions before you travel. This was already standard advice for Rome; post-Jubilee, it is more important than ever.
Consider shoulder timing: November 2026, February 2027, and late October 2026 will see lower Jubilee-carry demand than spring and summer. If you can travel outside the peak, the price differential in 2026 is larger than in a non-Jubilee-adjacent year.
Vatican area accommodation: If the Vatican and St Peter’s are your priority, book Vatican-area hotels (Prati neighbourhood) 4–6 months ahead for spring 2026, especially Easter week. For other periods, 6–8 weeks is generally sufficient.
Pilgrimage vs tourism coexistence: Rome during and after a Jubilee is a city serving two distinct audiences simultaneously — religious pilgrims and secular tourists. The pilgrim routes and tourist circuits overlap substantially (both groups want the Vatican, both want the Colosseum). Plan your Vatican visit for very early morning (official opening 09:00; queues start forming 08:00 for uncrowded entry) to coincide with neither the tour-group rush nor the mid-morning pilgrimage influx.
How the Jubilee changed Vatican access procedures
Several permanent or semi-permanent changes to Vatican access came out of the Jubilee period:
Timed entry is now standard for all Vatican Museums slots. The pre-Jubilee practice of buying a ticket and arriving at any time within the opening hours is gone. All visits now require a specific entry time window. This is a net positive for visitors — it distributes arrivals more evenly and reduces the worst crowd moments.
St Peter’s Basilica security queue management: The Vatican upgraded its security screening facilities during the Jubilee, reducing peak waiting times at the Basilica entry from 90+ minutes (pre-Jubilee peak) to around 30–60 minutes in comparable conditions. The upgrade includes additional screening lanes.
Dress code enforcement: Significantly stricter enforced checks were introduced during the Jubilee and remain in place. Visitors who are turned away for violating the dress code (uncovered shoulders or knees) are not given warnings — they are directed to the side to cover up or return when dressed appropriately. Carry a light scarf.
Queue management for St Peter’s Square: For major papal events (Sunday Angelus at noon, General Audience on Wednesdays), the Vatican’s crowd management system with barriers and timed entry sectors introduced during the Jubilee year continues in 2026.
The spiritual Jubilee for pilgrims: what to know
If you are travelling to Rome partly or specifically as a pilgrim, the Jubilee year’s official structure is worth understanding.
The 2025 Jubilee ended 6 January 2026 with the closing of the Holy Doors (Porte Sante) at the four basilicas. However, pilgrimage remains possible — and encouraged — in any year outside a Holy Year through the regular pilgrimage structure of the four basilicas.
The four papal basilicas: The traditional Jubilee pilgrimage circuit visits:
- St Peter’s Basilica (Vatican)
- San Giovanni in Laterano (Rome’s official cathedral, not St Peter’s)
- Santa Maria Maggiore
- San Paolo fuori le Mura (St Paul’s Outside the Walls)
Walking the circuit on foot — approximately 7–9 km depending on route — is a full day’s pilgrimage route. Each basilica has its own character: St John Lateran for its extraordinary baptistery and ancient history; Santa Maria Maggiore for its 5th-century mosaics; St Paul’s for its cloister and the vast interior.
The Jubilee restored pilgrimage routes between these basilicas include improved paving, signage and rest stops. These improvements remain beneficial for any visitor walking the circuit.
Practical guide to the Vatican in 2026 post-Jubilee
Best visiting times:
| Time | Conditions |
|---|---|
| 09:00 official opening, weekday | Least crowded; tour groups arrive from 10:00 |
| 09:00–10:00, Saturday | Moderately busy |
| Any time, Sunday | Museums closed (except last Sunday of the month — free entry, extremely crowded) |
| 14:00–16:00 | Shoulder period; some tour groups departing |
| Last Sunday of month (free) | Maximum crowding; not recommended without extreme patience |
Key booking resources:
- Vatican Museums official tickets: biglietteriamusei.vatican.va
- Guided Vatican tours with reserved entry: available through licensed operators on GYG
- St Peter’s Basilica: no booking required, but use the off-peak timing above
Photography in the Sistine Chapel: Photography is officially prohibited in the Sistine Chapel. This rule is sporadically enforced — but respected by those who understand that the ban exists partly to protect the frescoes from flash damage and partly because Michelangelo’s masterpiece deserves focused attention rather than being viewed through a screen.
Accommodation strategy post-Jubilee
The Jubilee permanently elevated Rome’s accommodation market for peak periods near the Vatican. The zones most affected:
Prati: The elegant residential neighbourhood immediately north of the Vatican. Walking distance to the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s. Prati hotels (particularly 3–4 star category) remain more expensive in 2026 than 2024 pre-Jubilee rates.
Borgo (between the Vatican and Castel Sant’Angelo): An ancient neighbourhood with limited but atmospheric accommodation. Very expensive and books out early.
Centro Storico: Not directly adjacent to the Vatican but within walking distance for energetic visitors. Hotel prices in the historic centre have also seen Jubilee-era uplift, particularly for apartments and boutique hotels.
Budget alternative: Monti and Esquilino/Termini areas offer comparable value with metro access to the Vatican in 15–20 minutes. The Termini area is grittier but convenient; Monti is a genuinely pleasant neighbourhood with better independent restaurants and fewer tourist traps.
For the full seasonal picture, see the best time to visit Rome guide and the Rome itinerary planning guide.
Frequently asked questions about the Rome Jubilee
Was the 2025 Jubilee good or bad for tourists? Primarily good, with one caveat. The Jubilee brought massive investment in infrastructure, cleaner pilgrimage routes, and improved Vatican logistics. The downsides were peak-period pricing pressure and higher baseline crowd levels. For visitors in 2026, they inherit the benefits without the most extreme Jubilee-year crowding.
Are there special Jubilee passes or discounts still available in 2026? No. Jubilee-specific pilgrimage pass programmes and special museum combinations ended with the Holy Year on 6 January 2026. Standard museum admission applies in 2026. However, some Catholic pilgrimage organisations still offer group Rome packages with Holy Land connections that carry Jubilee branding for promotional purposes — these are commercial packages, not official Holy Year benefits.
Will there be another Jubilee soon? The next ordinary Jubilee is scheduled for 2050. An extraordinary Jubilee could be called at any time by a future pope, but there is no current announcement of one. Visitors to Rome in 2026–2049 are not planning around another Jubilee in that period.
Did the Jubilee change the Colosseum experience? The Jubilee caused no specific changes to Colosseum access — the mandatory timed reservation system predates the Jubilee (it was introduced several years earlier). However, peak Jubilee-period demand for the Colosseum in summer 2025 was exceptionally high. The 2026 situation has normalised somewhat, though summer booking lead times remain 3–5 weeks.
How did the Jubilee affect Rome’s restaurants? The main effect was economic pressure on the restaurant sector: higher footfall created opportunities, but also higher rent demands and a shift in some Centro Storico neighbourhoods towards tourist-trap menus. The neighbourhoods that retained local character best during the Jubilee — Testaccio, the residential parts of Prati, Ostiense — remain the most reliable areas for authentic dining.
What ETIAS means for non-EU visitors in 2026
The Jubilee period coincided with preparations for the EU’s new travel authorisation system, ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System). This is relevant for visitors from approximately 59 visa-exempt nationalities — including US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and Japanese passport holders.
Status as of June 2026: ETIAS is not yet required. The system was scheduled for launch in Q4 2026 with a 6-month transition/grace period, making it a mandatory boarding condition approximately from April 2027. As of the date of this guide, no ETIAS is needed to visit Rome.
When it launches: The fee will be €20 (ages 18–70), valid for 3 years and multiple entries. Application is online; the process is expected to take minutes. The ETIAS is a pre-travel registration, not a visa — eligible nationalities do not need to attend an embassy.
What this means for Jubilee-era planning: If you booked travel to Rome for 2026 during the Jubilee period and heard about ETIAS requirements, those requirements do not apply to 2026 travel. Plan your 2026 visit normally; keep an eye on official EU guidance for any 2027 travel.
The four basilicas: practical visitor information post-Jubilee
The Jubilee investment in the pilgrimage route between Rome’s four papal basilicas resulted in improved infrastructure that benefits all visitors. Here is what each offers beyond their religious significance:
St Peter’s Basilica (Vatican) The largest church in the world by interior area. Michelangelo’s Pietà (protected behind glass since a 1972 attack), Bernini’s bronze baldachin, the papal crypt below. Free entry to the basilica; paid entry for the dome climb (approximately €8 stairs, €10 with lift). No booking required for basilica entry — but the security queue can be 45–90 minutes without arriving early or strategic timing.
San Giovanni in Laterano (St John Lateran) Rome’s official cathedral as the seat of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope’s primary role). Contains one of Rome’s best cloisters (Cosmati marble work), the Baptistery of St John (the oldest surviving Christian baptistery in Rome), and an extraordinary 13th-century Lateran Obelisk — the tallest ancient obelisk in Rome. Far fewer visitors than St Peter’s; easily combined with the Caelian Hill area.
Santa Maria Maggiore One of Rome’s oldest basilicas (original construction 432 AD, present form largely 5th–18th century). Contains 5th-century mosaic cycles that are among the finest in Rome. The Sistine Chapel that almost no one visits: the funerary chapel of Pope Sixtus V (not the Vatican one) is here. The basilica is near Termini — easily reached on foot or by metro.
San Paolo fuori le Mura (St Paul’s Outside the Walls) The largest basilica after St Peter’s. The Jubilee’s “Holy Door” was at each of the four basilicas; St Paul’s door is in the southern part of the church complex. The magnificent 19th-century interior (rebuilt after an 1823 fire) houses the purported tomb of St Paul. The cloister garden is one of Rome’s most beautiful — Cosmatesque work comparable to St John Lateran. Take Metro B to San Paolo.
