What’s on in Rome this weekend, 2–4 October 2026: the Appian Way in celebration, the free first Sunday in museums, three civic exhibitions on their last day and the Pyramid of Cestius reopened with free visits. At the end, what opens in the coming week: Keith Haring, Pontormo, Richard Avedon. Each entry links to its EstateRomana listing (in Italian) for hours, addresses and tickets.
This is the TourLeaderPro agenda, twice a week: Monday for the week, Thursday for the weekend. The full calendar, updated daily, is at EstateRomana – all events in Rome and EstateRomana – current exhibitions.
Not to miss
Appia Day, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4
The tenth edition of the festival of the Regina Viarum. The village is at the third mile, between the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and the church of San Nicola; free entry to Villa dei Quintili, Cecilia Metella and Castrum Caetani, Villa di Sette Bassi and the Lucrezia Romana Antiquarium. Villa dei Tritoni (Via Appia Antica 55) is open without booking on Saturday 10am–6pm and Sunday 10am–2pm. On Sunday, ArcheoGRAB by bike leaves the Arch of Constantine at 9:30am and ArcheoRun leaves Porta Capena at 10am, both free with registration on appiaday.org. EstateRomana listing.
Free first Sunday, 4 October
State museums and Civic Museums are free. Official list, bookings and advice in our guide: Free First Sunday in Rome, 4 October 2026.
Pyramid of Cestius, free visits
After restoration the Pyramid of Cestius can be visited again, with a run of free visits by reservation until 31 October. Places per slot are few: book before you go. Dates and booking on EstateRomana.
Exhibitions: last days
| Exhibition | Where | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Mapplethorpe. Le forme della bellezza | Ara Pacis Museum | Sunday 4 October |
| Lungo le Strade Blu – Along the Blue Highways | Museo di Roma in Trastevere | Sunday 4 October |
| Moto a luogo #2 | Museo delle Mura (free) | Sunday 4 October |
| Prospettive. Fotografare Palazzo Corsini | Galleria Corsini | Sunday 4 October |
| Vermeer, Woman in Blue Reading a Letter | Palazzo Barberini | Sunday 11 October |
| Metamorfosi. Ovid and the arts | Galleria Borghese | Sunday 11 October |
| GAM 100 | Galleria d’Arte Moderna | Sunday 11 October |
Exhibitions: just opened
- Las Grietas by Fabiola Ferrero, Museo di Roma in Trastevere, 1 October to 22 November.
- Elisa Montessori. Nel corso del tempo, Casino dei Principi at Villa Torlonia, until 28 February 2027.
- Agnieszka Mastalerz. The Props Assist the House, Serra Moresca at Villa Torlonia, from Saturday 3 October to 22 November.
- Italian Baroque in Dresden, Museo Napoleonico, until 10 January 2027.
- Diego Rivera, Capitoline Museums – Villa Caffarelli, until 13 December: the Capitoline’s major show of the year.
Theatre and music this weekend
From the EstateRomana calendar:
- (LA)HORDE, “Après moi, le déluge”, Teatro Argentina, until Sunday 4.
- Vinicio Capossela, “E Morte non avrà dominio”, Teatro Olimpico, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4.
- Blow Up Percussion, a tribute to Steve Reich, Mattatoio, Sunday 4.
The week ahead
- Tuesday 6 October: Keith Haring opens at Museo di Roma in Palazzo Braschi, more than 140 works, until 11 April 2027.
- Friday 9 October: Pontormo opens at the Scuderie del Quirinale (until 7 February 2027) and Richard Avedon, In the American West at Palazzo delle Esposizioni (until 31 January 2027).
- Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October: the FAI Autumn Days, with special openings in Rome too.
For those leading groups and guests
- On Sunday 4 stay away from the Colosseum and the Pantheon: free entry multiplies the lines.
- The Appian Way on Saturday morning is the most elegant choice of the weekend, and the sites are free.
- Anyone who wants to see the Vermeer at Palazzo Barberini has until the 11th: a weekday is better.
Sources consulted on 2 October 2026: Appia Antica Archaeological Park; Musei in Comune – exhibitions; Museo di Roma – Keith Haring; Scuderie del Quirinale; Palazzo delle Esposizioni; the EstateRomana calendar. Dates and hours can change: always check before you go.
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