Pompeii hosts gladiators for Heritage Days on 26 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 08:42 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Pompeii and the European Heritage Days programme meet at the archaeological park in Pompeii, Italy, on 26 and 27 September 2026, with gladiatorial re-enactments and educational activities across the ancient site (Pompei). The programme is organised by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii as part of the national heritage weekend.
European Heritage Days bring Dies in Arena to Pompeii
Saturday 26 September 2026 is devoted to Roman gladiatorial combat through Dies in Arena. The programme begins with an introduction to gladiatorial combat in the Basilica, followed by a presentation on the gladiatorial school in the Quadriportico dei Teatri.
The final act, Munera, is scheduled for the Amphitheatre. It includes an imperial procession, court figures and magistrates, followed by demonstrations involving pairs of gladiators. The Archaeological Park’s programme also includes educational displays about ancient weapons in the Quadriportico area.
On Sunday 27 September 2026, the third edition of Ludi Pompeiani continues the programme around the Amphitheatre. The weekend’s activities are part of the official heritage programme, which also names activities at Boscoreale, Stabiae and Oplontis.
Pompeii’s Amphitheatre connects the programme with Roman history
The choice of the Amphitheatre gives the re-enactment a direct connection with one of the city’s public buildings. UNESCO describes Pompeii as a well-preserved ancient Roman city with an excavated area of 44 hectares, a forum, public baths, two theatres and an amphitheatre.
The eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 buried Pompeii and Herculaneum, while the remains were progressively excavated and opened to visitors from the mid-eighteenth century. The archaeological areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata entered the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The setting therefore links a current public programme with the preserved urban spaces that document Roman life.
What the 2026 heritage weekend adds to a Pompeii visit
The weekend does not replace the archaeological visit. It places demonstrations, workshops and performances within several sites managed by the Archaeological Park, allowing visitors to encounter the ancient city alongside activities focused on Roman practices and interpretation.
The programme’s Saturday sequence moves from the Basilica to the Quadriportico dei Teatri and then to the Amphitheatre. That route follows the historical subject from civic and educational explanation to the arena setting, rather than presenting the re-enactment as a standalone show.
Visiting Pompeii: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- European Heritage Days run at Pompeii on 26 and 27 September 2026. Dies in Arena is scheduled for 26 September, while Ludi Pompeiani continues on 27 September 2026.
- The programme is hosted by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and uses the Basilica, Quadriportico dei Teatri and Amphitheatre. The regular archaeological site remains the setting for the heritage activities.
- Pompeii is in Campania, Italy, near modern Naples. The official park lists Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro and Piazza Esedra as entrances, with Porta Marina near the Circumvesuviana railway station.
- The official park advises that entry is subject to a daily limit of 20,000 visitors and that tickets are personal. Small bags only, measuring no more than 30 x 30 x 15 cm, are permitted.
- Italian is the official language and the currency is the euro.
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Frequently asked questions about Pompeii
When do European Heritage Days take place at Pompeii?
The programme takes place on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026. Dies in Arena is scheduled for 26 September and Ludi Pompeiani for 27 September 2026.
What is Pompeii?
Pompeii is an ancient Roman city in Campania, Italy, preserved after the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage property inscribed in 1997.
Where is Pompeii and how do you get there?
The archaeological park is near modern Naples. Its listed entrances are Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro and Piazza Esedra, with Porta Marina near the Circumvesuviana railway station.
