Why go On the evening of 1 January, organ and choirs in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, as at the last edition.
The 2026 edition
On the evening of 1 January 2026 the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore hosted the traditional New Year’s Concert, «Hodie Christus Natus Est». It was organised by the Coro giovanile San Felice da Nicosia, conducted by Mario Di Pietro, with the Schola Cantorum «Mater Dei» of Troina, conducted by Stella Cantale; Roberto Castiglia played the organ.
The two choirs opened together with «Tu scendi dalle stelle» and closed with the Jubilee hymn «Pellegrini di speranza». At the end the parish priest, Father Delfio Scandurra, and the bishop, Mons. Giuseppe Schillaci, greeted the audience.
Earlier editions
In 2023 and 2024 the concert of 1 January was held in the Cathedral, with the Coro giovanile and the organists Ermanno Provitina and Roberto Castiglia: «Veni Domine Jesu» in 2023, «O magnum misterium» in 2024.
A New Year’s concert used to be held on 2 January: in 2018 and 2020 it was in the church of San Vincenzo Ferreri, with the wind orchestra of the San Felice band conducted by Giuseppe Tamburello and the Santa Cecilia music association.
Good to know
The 2027 programme has not been published yet. The place on this page is the last edition’s, and it has changed over the years.
Sources: TeleNicosia, «Nicosia, Coro giovanile San Felice e Schola Cantorum “Mater Dei” di Troina insieme per il Concerto di Capodanno», 2 January 2026 (read 4 November 2026); «“O Magnum Misterium”: il Concerto di Capodanno nella Cattedrale di San Nicola a Nicosia», 2 January 2024 (read 4 November 2026); «Il 2023 a Nicosia si apre con il concerto di Capodanno in cattedrale», 2 January 2023 (read 4 November 2026); «Nicosia, torna il 2 gennaio il “Concerto di Capodanno” a cura dell’Orchestra di fiati della Banda San Felice», 30 December 2019 (read 4 November 2026); «Nicosia, grande successo per il concerto di Capodanno», 5 January 2018 (read 4 November 2026). All in Italian.
