“Rome, City of Major Events”: Three out of Four Romans Have Attended at Least One Major Event
Rome, January 30, 2026 – Three out of four Romans have participated in at least one major event in the last three years, and over seven out of ten citizens consider these events an opportunity for the city’s growth. These findings emerged from an SWG survey presented at the Capitoline Hill during the “Rome, City of Major Events” event, organized by Roma Capitale in collaboration with Il Messaggero.
According to the data, 84 percent of Romans believe these events make Rome more attractive to young people, 83 percent for tourists, and 77 percent for new entrepreneurs. Only 8 percent of respondents think the city should reduce its focus on major events.
Mayor Gualtieri: “An Industrial and Quality of Life Lever”
Mayor Roberto Gualtieri emphasized the strategic importance of these initiatives. “Major events, if one decides to bring them to Rome by investing in the city, are an extraordinary lever for economic growth and an improvement in the quality of life. They are not a problem to defend against, but a policy tool,” Gualtieri stated. He highlighted that Rome has surpassed Milan in investments, with music and sports having a measurable impact, and music even outweighing sports in citizen appreciation.
Widespread Participation and Demand for Better Services
The survey data revealed that 75 percent of citizens have participated in at least one major sporting, musical, or fashion event, a percentage that rises to 85 percent among those under 35. “Beyond the protests that emerge in media narratives, major events are massively experienced by Romans. The real problem is not the events themselves, but transportation: citizens are not asking for fewer events, but for better ways to get to them,” the Mayor observed.
A New Covered Arena with Over 20,000 Seats
During his speech, Gualtieri reiterated the need for Rome to have a new large covered facility with over 20,000 seats, intended not only for sports but also for concerts and major musical events. “We are working on various hypotheses and solutions,” he assured, emphasizing that enhancing historical sites requires responsibility but represents a strategic choice.
Councillor Onorato: “Rome Has Returned to Being the Capital of Major Events”
The Capitoline Councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism, and Fashion, Alessandro Onorato, highlighted that the SWG and Teha Group research confirms the effectiveness of the administration’s strategy. “78 percent of Romans consider major events an opportunity for international visibility, and 63 percent believe they enable structural investments. These data demonstrate how Rome has returned to being a global capital of sports, music, culture, and fashion.”
Growing Tourism and Economic Benefits
Onorato recalled the record numbers of tourist arrivals: over 49 million in 2023, 51.4 million in 2024, and almost 53 million in 2025, the Jubilee year. In 2024, tourism generated economic returns of 13.3 billion euros, more than the combined total of Venice, Milan, Florence, and Naples. “Behind these numbers are families and workers,” he stressed.
Flow Management and Trevi Fountain Tickets
Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè also participated in the debate, expressing appreciation for the introduction of a ticket system at the Trevi Fountain as a tool for regulating tourist flows. This approach is shared by Councillor Onorato, who called the measure “a civil revolution” capable of protecting the monument and improving its enjoyment.
A City-Wide Strategy
From the survey data to institutional discussions, the message from the Capitoline Hill is clear: major events represent a strategic lever for the economic, tourist, and social development of the Capital. This challenge, as reiterated by the administrators, is not just political but concerns the overall future of the city.
Source: https://www.lacapitale.it/articolo/roma-citt%C3%A0-dei-grandi-eventi-tre-romani-su-quattro-hanno-partecipato-ad-almeno-un-grande-evento
