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Celebrate the San Gennaro Feast in New York City, on September 17 to 27, 2026, with live music, a parade, special guests and delicious Italian food and drinks! San Gennaro is the patron saint of Naples, Italy. During those 11 days, Little Italy is a red, white and green extravaganza.
History
San Gennaro was the Bishop of Benevento, Italy. He was caught up in the persecution by Emperor Diocletian. San Gennaro was tortured but refused to denounce Christ. He was thrown into a furnace and somehow came through it with no serious injuries. He was then beheaded.
San Gennaro is honored as Naple’s principal patron. Neopolitans pray to him for protection from fires, earthquakes, plagues, droughts and Mt. Vesuvius.
When Italian immigrants settled in New York City at the turn of the 20th century, the Neopolitans settled on Mulberry Street in Little Italy. In 1926, the Neopolitans had a one day block party for San Gennaro. Year after year, it continued and grew until now it lasts 11 days and more than one million people will be coming to Little Italy for the celebration. This year will be the 100th annual celebration in New York City.
The Celebration
Every festival needs a parade and the Grand Procession is a fantastic parade. The September 26th procession will have marching bands, entertainers, dancers, revelers, colorful floats and the most significant feature, the statue of San Gennaro.
If you’d like to go to the San Gennaro Feast New York City Festival and look the part, see these colorful, unique clothes.
The festival stage is located on the corner of Grand and Mott Streets in Little Italy. The lineup of live entertainment will start at 6:30 pm each evening.
Entertainment
There will be entertainment throughout the festival. The performers include
- Johnny Mandolin & Friends
- Jessa V Quartet
- Eric DeLauro of the Rat Pack Band
- Giglio Band
- Live Radio Broadcast WCBS-FM hosted by Joe Causi
- Angelo Venuto & Friends
- Vanessa Rucci
- Rudy Tinelli
- Jenna Esposito
- Mike Sergio
- Midnight Green
- Sal Viviano
- Amanda Pascali
- Frank Moyo
- Matteo De Sartis
- Teo Ricciardella
- Alan Faraone
- Just Friends
- Cory Pesaturo
- Louis Vanaria
- Bianca & Vittorio
- Nichola King
- Dominic Chianese
- Ginger Winn
- Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti
A Taste of Italy
For almost a century, the San Gennaro festival in Little Italy has been known for the aromas in the air of fried dough and sausages and peppers. Enjoy watching the Zeppole Eating Competition, Meatball Eating Competition and the Pizza Eating Contest. The most popular is the Cannoli Eating Contest with contestants attacking mountains of cannolis.
So many people come to stroll the strip of food vendors, trying to decide zeppole or cannoli. The Feast regulars have learned how to party with food in one hand.
There are so many great Italian restaurants in Little Italy, so how do you choose just one when you want an actual sit down meal? Here are the 10 Best Italian Restaurants in Little Italy as chosen by the users of TripAdvisor.
- Da Nico Ristorante Manhattan
- Benito One
- Ferrara Bakery & Cafe
- Gelso & Grand
- Il Cortile Restaurant
- Paesana Of Little Italy
- La Bella Ferrara
- Casa D’Angelo – NYC
- Caffe Palermo
- La Mala Ristorante
Visiting New York City
If you’d like to go to New York City for the Feast of San Gennaro, you should consider checking out these hotel deals.
If you’re going to be flying into New York City, book your airline ticket here and use the promo code “FLIGHT35” so you can save money.
