San Gennaro turns 100: Little Italy feast schedule for Sept. 17 to 27

The Feast of San Gennaro marks its 100th year in Little Italy from Sept. 17 to 27. Food vendors, rides, games and live music will fill the neighborhood from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily, with hours running until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

The celebration started as a one-day block party in 1926. In the early 1900s, Italian immigrants on the Lower East Side settled street by street according to their home regions, and people from Naples chose Mulberry Street. A century later, the feast runs 11 days, covers 11 blocks and draws millions of visitors.

Feast of San Gennaro 2026 event schedule

Johnny Mandolin opens the festival for the 15th time on Sept. 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with special guest Marie Anello. A Mass for the saint is set for Sept. 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. MORE Opera returns on Sept. 21 for its fourth Opera Night, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The Grand Procession runs Sept. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. with floats, live bands, a tribute to the armed forces and the statue of San Gennaro. Also on Sept. 26, Naples artists Furious Jane, Livio Cori and Walter Ricci will perform, sponsored by Napoli Expo for the anniversary. Jenna Esposito, known as “The voice of Little Italy,” closes the feast on Sept. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Food, rides and the saint behind the feast

Vendors will sell favorites like pizza, rice balls, fried calamari, and sausage and peppers, alongside classic carnival games and rides. Since 1996, the group Figli di San Gennaro has donated more than $2 million to charities and programs for education, children, seniors, health care and schools.

San Gennaro was bishop of Benevento, Italy, and was martyred in A.D. 305. His body is kept in Naples, which honors him as its patron saint. His blood, normally solid, is said to turn liquid twice a year: on the first Sunday of May and on Sept. 19, the anniversary of his death.