Honestly, if you walked into Rome today, January 18, 2026, you'd notice the air feels a little lighter, yet strangely more organized. We are officially in the "post-Jubilee" exhale. After a solid year of millions of pilgrims flooding the cobblestones for the 2025 Holy Year, the city is finally trying to figure out its new identity. It’s not just about the crowds thinning out, though. There is a lot actually happening on the ground right now that is changing how the city works—and how much it costs to see it.
The Big Shift: Paying for the Trevi
The biggest piece of rome italy news today that has everyone talking is the final countdown to the Trevi Fountain entry fee. It's been a rumor for years, but the barriers are basically going up. Starting February 1—just a couple of weeks away—you won't be able to just wander up to the edge of the water and toss a coin for free. The city is implementing a 2-euro ticket system.
It sounds like a small amount, but the logistics are a mess. There are going to be two separate lanes: one for tourists who paid and one for Rome residents who get in for free. The goal is to cap the crowd at 400 people at a time. If you’ve ever been there in the middle of July, you know it usually looks like a sardine can. Today, workers are finalizing those brass bollards that are replacing the ugly temporary fences. City Hall thinks this will bring in about 20 million euros a year.
👉 See also: Why Trump's West Point Speech Still Matters Years Later
Is it a cash grab? Sorta. But the city claims that money is going straight back into cleaning the marble, which, to be fair, gets trashed by the sheer volume of humanity passing through.
Diplomacy and the Vatican
Over in Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV has been busy. Just yesterday and today, he’s been hosting various delegations at the Paul VI Audience Hall. Most of the talk is focused on peace efforts in the Middle East and Ukraine, but there’s a local vibe to it too. The "Jubilee of Hope" officially wrapped up recently, and there was a massive thanksgiving audience with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni just about a week ago.
✨ Don't miss: Johnny Somali AI Deepfake: What Really Happened in South Korea
You’ve also got the U.S. delegation making waves. We just got word that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are headed to Italy very soon for the Winter Olympics opening in the north, but they’ve got scheduled stops in Rome first. It’s a high-security moment for the capital. If you’re near the U.S. Embassy on Via Veneto, expect a lot of black SUVs and closed-off sidewalks.
What’s actually open (and what’s not)
- The Sistine Chapel: If you’re planning to see Michelangelo’s Last Judgment this week, be warned. They’ve started "extraordinary maintenance." There is a massive twelve-level scaffolding system going up. You can still get in, but the view is... obstructed.
- The Museums: It's a great time for art if you don’t mind the cold. The "Treasures of the Pharaohs" at the Scuderie del Quirinale is the hot ticket right now. It has 130 pieces on loan from Cairo and Luxor.
- Public Transit: Surprisingly, things are running better than usual. The new "Piazza Pia" underpass near Castel Sant’Angelo is finally open, which has actually fixed some of the nightmare traffic that used to choke the area around the Vatican.
The Reality of Living in Rome in 2026
While the tourists are looking at statues, Romans are looking at their wallets. There was a big 24-hour taxi strike earlier this week that left everyone stranded, and the mood is a bit tense. A recent SWG study shows that about 47% of Italians are feeling pretty pessimistic about global stability. There’s a sense that while the city was "beautified" for the Jubilee with 2 billion euros in renovations, the daily cost of living has spiked.
🔗 Read more: Sweden School Shooting 2025: What Really Happened at Campus Risbergska
Basically, the city is cleaner, the parks have new benches, and the Metro C expansion is slowly—very slowly—crawling toward Piazza Venezia. That station is going to be a "museum station," and you can see the construction crews working on it today. It’s supposed to be the world's largest archaeological station once it's done.
Actionable Tips for Navigating Rome Right Now
If you're in the city or arriving this week, here is how to handle the current state of things:
- Book the Trevi now (if you're coming after Feb 1): The booking portal is going live any second. If you don't have a QR code, you're going to be stuck behind a barrier looking at the fountain from 50 feet away.
- Use the new Pedestrian Zones: The area from St. Peter’s to Castel Sant’Angelo is now almost entirely car-free. It’s a long, beautiful walk that didn't exist two years ago. Use it.
- Watch the Weather: It’s crisp. We’re talking 5-12°C. Romans are in full floor-length puffer jackets. Don't be the tourist in shorts; you'll stand out for the wrong reasons.
- Check for "Saldi": The winter sales are in full swing until mid-February. If you want high-end Italian leather or fashion, the shops on Via del Corso are hacking prices by 30-50% right now.
Rome is in a weird transition phase. It's moving away from the chaos of the Holy Year and into a more "controlled" tourism model. Whether that’s good or bad depends on if you mind paying 2 euros to see a fountain, but for today, the city is just trying to catch its breath.
To stay ahead of the changes, keep an eye on the official Roma Mobilità app for transit strikes, as more are rumored for the end of the month. Make sure to download your tickets for the Vatican Museums at least three weeks in advance, as the post-Jubilee "quiet period" is still busier than a normal January used to be.