The WWF’s global initiative, Earth Hour, returns on Saturday, March 28, 2026. This year, the event takes on special significance as it celebrates its 20th edition.
Lights out in Rome (and beyond)
Rome, as is tradition, is the heart of the Italian mobilization, featuring central events and the symbolic blackout of its most iconic monuments. For one hour, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the capital’s main landmarks will remain in darkness.
- The Colosseum: the historic symbol of the event in Rome.
- Trevi Fountain: the venue chosen for this year’s main event.
- St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican): the Holy See is participating by turning off the lights of the dome and the facade.
- The lights of the “Silvio Di Francia” House of Culture and Sport will be turned off.
- The lights of the offices of City Hall VI will be turned off.
Lights will also be turned off in Florence, Milan, Venice, Pescara, Lecce, and Naples.
Event Details 2026
The event will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The meeting point will be at the Trevi Fountain.
Why are the lights being turned off?
The goal is not the energy savings of the 60 minutes itself, but the symbolic value of a shared gesture. The WWF emphasizes that 2026 is a crucial year for the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, requiring urgent action to halve global emissions by 2030.
2025 confirmed an unprecedented climate surge, with temperatures 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and a doubling of the area of forest land burned. These extreme events have claimed thousands of lives and accounted for a staggering 92% of global economic losses over the past year.
Helpful note: Remember that the night between March 28 and 29, 2026, also marks the switch to daylight saving time, so you’ll need to set your clocks forward one hour.
