Italian Feast Guide · New York, NY
Feast of San Gennaro
Last updated
Every September, Little Italy in lower Manhattan hands its streets over to the Feast of San Gennaro, a celebration of the patron saint of Naples that began as a single-day block party a century ago. In 2026 the feast reached its 100th edition. This guide gathers the essentials from the festival's official website — when it ran, which streets it covers, where the tradition comes from and what you'll find on the blocks — so you can plan a visit and then confirm the details at the source.
Quick answer
The Feast of San Gennaro is an annual street festival in Manhattan's Little Italy honoring San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples. It centers on Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston. The 100th feast ran from Thursday, September 17 through Sunday, September 27, 2026. Dates for 2027 have not been announced on the official site yet.
At a glance
- Where
- Little Italy, Manhattan, New York City
- 2026 dates
- Thursday, September 17 – Sunday, September 27, 2026 (the 100th annual feast)
- 2027 dates
- Not yet announced on the official site
- Honors
- San Gennaro (Saint Januarius), principal patron of Naples
- Organizer
- Figli di San Gennaro Inc
- Highlights
- Grand Procession, bandstand performances, vendors
History
San Gennaro — Saint Januarius in English — was Bishop of Benevento and was martyred in 305 AD. He is the principal patron of Naples. The festival's official site says his blood liquefies twice a year: on the first Sunday of May and on September 19.
According to the official site, Italian immigrants who settled in lower Manhattan tended to cluster by home region, each on its own street, and the Neapolitans made Mulberry Street theirs. In 1926 they threw a one-day block party for their patron saint. Over the decades it grew into an eleven-day event stretching across roughly eleven blocks of Little Italy.
What to expect
- The official site highlights three things: a Grand Procession, live performances on a bandstand at the corner of Grand and Mott Streets, and the vendors lining the feast streets.
- The feast is run by Figli di San Gennaro Inc, which says it supports more than 30 charities.
- For the daily schedule, check the event calendar on the official site.
Getting there
- The official site places the feast on Mulberry Street (Little Italy) between Canal and Houston Streets, plus Hester Street between Baxter and Centre Streets, and Grand Street between Baxter Street and Centre Market Place.
- We haven't listed transit or parking details because we only repeat what the official site states — check it before you head out.
Sausage and peppers at the feast
Sausage and peppers is a staple of Italian-American street feasts in general — the smell of links and peppers on a flat-top is half the reason Larry shows up. We don’t say who is cooking it at this feast, because vendor lineups change.
Check the festival’s own vendor page for who is cooking what. Want the dish at home? Read Larry’s complete sausage and peppers guide, make the signature recipe, or browse all recipes. Feeding a feast-sized crowd? Try the party & feast portion calculator.
Common questions
When is the Feast of San Gennaro?
In 2026 it ran from Thursday, September 17 through Sunday, September 27. The official site has not announced 2027 dates yet.
Where is the Feast of San Gennaro held?
On Mulberry Street in Little Italy between Canal and Houston, plus Hester Street between Baxter and Centre Streets and Grand Street between Baxter Street and Centre Market Place.
Who was San Gennaro?
Saint Januarius, Bishop of Benevento, martyred in 305 AD. He is the principal patron of Naples.
How old is the feast?
It began in 1926 as a one-day block party. The 2026 feast was the 100th.
Who organizes the feast?
Figli di San Gennaro Inc, which says it supports more than 30 charities.
Is there sausage and peppers at San Gennaro?
Sausage and peppers is a staple of Italian-American street feasts in general, but check the official vendors page to see who is cooking what.