Accademia Gallery Opening Hours & Holidays

Getting the hours right before you visit the Accademia Gallery matters more than it might seem. Arrive on a Monday and you will find the doors closed. Miss the 6:20 pm last entry by a few minutes and you will be turned away. Plan around a public holiday without checking and you may find the museum busier than expected — or unexpectedly closed.

This article gives you the complete, accurate 2026 schedule with no ambiguity.

Standard Opening Hours 2026

Key timing rules: – Last entry is 6:20 pm — arriving after this time results in being turned away at the door – The ticket office closes at 6:20 pm – Museum clearance of upper floor halls and ground floor Musical Instruments rooms begins at 6:40 pm — access to these areas ends 10 minutes before overall closing – Timed entry slots are in 15-minute increments from 8:15 am through 6:20 pm

Extended Evening Hours — Summer 2026

The Accademia Gallery offers extended Tuesday evening hours on select dates during summer. In 2026, extended opening runs on select Tuesdays between 21 June and 2 August, with the museum open until 10:00 pm (last entry 9:30 pm).

Evening visits during extended hours offer the museum at its calmest and most atmospheric — day-trip groups have long departed, temperatures are cooler, and the Tribune takes on a different quality of light. These evenings are among the best times to visit the Accademia during the entire year.

Exact dates for 2026 extended evening openings: Confirmed by the official gallery calendar closer to the season. Check galleriaaccademiafirenze.it before your visit to confirm which Tuesdays are extended. Booking in advance is recommended even for evening slots.

Permanent Closure Days

The Accademia Gallery is permanently closed on:

• Every Monday — year-round, without exception
• 1 January — New Year’s Day
• 1 May — Labour Day (Festa del Lavoro)
• 25 December — Christmas Day

These closures are fixed and do not move when they fall on a weekend. If 25 December falls on a Saturday, the museum is closed that Saturday.

Public Holidays: Open or Closed?

The Accademia Gallery is open on most Italian public holidays that do not coincide with its permanent closure days. Confirmed 2026 public holidays when the gallery is open:

Important: If any of these holidays fall on a Monday, the museum applies its standard Monday closure rule. The Ministry of Culture occasionally announces special Monday openings for public holidays that fall on that day — check the official website in advance.

Free Admission Days 2026

The Accademia Gallery offers free entry on the following dates. On all free days, advance booking is suspended and entry is walk-up only. No timed reservations are available.

First Sunday of every month: January 5 · February 2 · March 1 · April 6 · May 3 · June 7 · July 5 · August 3 · September 6 · October 4 · November 1 · December 6

National public holidays (free for all): – April 25 — Liberation Day – June 2 — Republic Day – November 4 — National Unity Day

International Women’s Day — March 8: Free entry for female visitors only.

Important note on free days: Crowds on free Sundays and public holidays are substantially larger than standard days — typically 40–60% more visitors. Queues of 2–3 hours before and during opening are common in peak season. For detailed guidance on whether free days are worth visiting, see our free admission guide.

Special Openings in 2026

January 5, 2026 (Monday): A special opening was held on this Monday — the day before Epiphany. Special Monday openings are announced by the museum with short notice. Check the official gallery website for any additional 2026 special openings.

The Ministry of Culture occasionally announces Museum Week (typically in March), during which state museums including the Accademia offer special admission conditions. Check the official calendar closer to your visit.

Practical Timing Notes

Arriving at last entry (6:20 pm): Technically valid — you will be admitted and may remain until 6:50 pm. However, the upper floor Musical Instruments section and ground floor Musical Instruments rooms are off-limits from 6:40 pm. If you arrive at 6:20 pm, you have approximately 30 minutes in the ground floor galleries, including the Tribune. This is enough time to see David and the Prisoners, but not the full collection.

Arriving early (8:15 am): The first 15-minute slot is the quietest of the day. Security processing is fast. The Tribune is calm. This is strongly recommended during peak season. See our best time to visit guide for full crowd timing guidance.

During timed entry slots: Your ticket specifies a 15-minute arrival window. Arriving significantly late to your slot (more than 15–20 minutes) risks losing your priority lane access. Staff will attempt to accommodate late arrivals in the next available slot but cannot guarantee it on busy days.

2026 Full Closure Calendar at a Glance

All other days the gallery is open, subject to any special announcements. Always verify on galleriaaccademiafirenze.it before visiting on a public holiday.