The Municipality of Bologna has established all the rules to guarantee a safe New Year’s Eve 2026 in Piazza Maggiore. The celebrations on the occasion of the traditional burning of the artist’s Vecchione and the musical festival on the Crescentone will be subjected to a series of specific measures to protect citizens and visitors. The administration has indicated access controls, a strict limit on attendance, bans on the use of barrels, glass and cans.
Regulated access and capacity control
Entries into Piazza Maggiore will be permitted starting from 9.30pm on 31 December, with gates located in Piazza Nettuno and Via dell’Archiginnasio. There will be four exits available, namely Piazza Nettuno, Via dell’Archiginnasio, Via IV Novembre and Piazza Re Enzo, located to facilitate the safe outflow of the public. People with disabilities will be able to reach the square from via IV Novembre and wait for midnight in an equipped area in the churchyard of San Petronio. The maximum capacity allowed in the square will be 9,000 people at the same time, and each spectator who enters will be given a coupon, to be returned upon exit, so as to monitor the number of those present in real time.
Bans on bottles, cans and stinging sprays
From 6pm on 31 December 2025 until 8am on 1 January 2026 it will be prohibited to introduce or consume drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, in glass or can containers throughout the entire celebration area. Likewise, it will be prohibited to bring cans of sting spray or use drones or other flying equipment above the central area. The ban extends to commercial activities located in the area, which will not be able to sell to-go or serve glass or canned drinks in the outdoor areas during the indicated time slots, nor leave movable furnishings in the outdoor areas. The restrictions also apply to neighboring streets and squares, including via de’ Pignattari, via dell’Archiginnasio, Clavature, Pescherie Vecchie, via D’Azeglio (up to via Farini), piazza Nettuno, piazza Re Enzo, via Indipendenza, via Rizzoli and via Ugo Bassi (T-Days area).
Stop barrels and dangerous materials: extended ordinance
The municipal ordinance which categorically prohibits barrels, firecrackers, firecrackers and any type of pyrotechnic fire remains in force from 24 December 2025 to 7 January 2026. The ban concerns public places, spaces open to the public, as well as private areas from which the fireworks can reach public areas. During New Year’s Eve, it will also be forbidden to introduce bicycles, scooters, bulky materials and potentially dangerous objects such as pointed umbrellas, poles, sticks and knives into Piazza Maggiore and the surrounding areas. The Municipality also recommends not displaying precious objects to avoid theft or loss during the event.
Street host and strengthened security presence
The street hosts of the Nottambula project, part of the Night Plan, will be on duty both in Piazza Maggiore and in the main streets such as Via Indipendenza and in the university area. The street hosts will have the task of informing and helping the public, helping to enforce the rules established by the local authorities, working in close coordination with the Local Police. Their presence aims to increase surveillance of the area and support the police and security personnel in managing situations and monitoring public behavior.
Public transport and traffic on New Year’s Eve
On New Year’s Eve, the 8 N night lines of Tper will be active, guaranteeing connections even during holiday hours. Starting from 9pm on 31 December, the bus service will be suspended in the central streets and the closure to vehicular traffic will be implemented in via Ugo Bassi and via Rizzoli. This decision was made to allow exclusively pedestrian use of the central area, increasing general safety during the celebrations. All these measures are designed to ensure a peaceful event, preventing accidents and facilitating movement control on one of the busiest evenings of the year.
The rules developed by the Municipality of Bologna will be fundamental to allow everyone to celebrate the new year in a safe and respectful way for traditions. The burning of the Vecchione and the music in the square will remain the fulcrum of the party, but words such as safety, prevention and civil coexistence will be the basis of the celebrations of this New Year’s Eve 2026.
