Every year, between July 29th and August 3rd, Assisi becomes a destination for thousands of pilgrims from all over the world to celebrate one of the most significant occurrences of Franciscan spirituality: the Solemnity of the Pardon of Assisi, also known as the Pardon of the Porziuncola. The 2026 edition takes on an even deeper meaning, as it is part of the journey of the 8th Centenary of the Passing of Saint Francis of Assisi, which will accompany the entire Franciscan year.
The heart of the celebrations is the Porziuncola, the small church housed within the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels. It is here that Saint Francis chose to live a large part of his spiritual experience and where, according to tradition, he obtained an extraordinary privilege from Pope Honorius III in 1216: the granting of a plenary indulgence for all those who, sincerely repentant, had confessed, received the Eucharist, and visited the church with a spirit of conversion. That gift, born from the Saint’s desire to make divine mercy accessible to everyone without distinction of wealth or social status, is still today one of the most authentic signs of the Franciscan message.
Over the centuries, the privilege has been extended to all parish and Franciscan churches in the world. From noon on August 1st until midnight on August 2nd, the faithful can obtain the Indulgence of the Porziuncola by fulfilling the usual conditions provided by the Church: sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, profession of faith, and prayer according to the Pope’s intentions, combined with a sincere detachment from every sin.
For 2026, the chosen theme is “The Porziuncola, a holy door always open”, an expression that recalls the vocation of this place to welcome anyone who wishes to undertake a path of reconciliation and peace. From July 29 to August 3, the Basilica will host an intense program of liturgical celebrations, moments of prayer, confessions, catechesis, and spiritual meetings, culminating on August 2, the day of the Solemnity of Pardon, when the Porziuncola will be crossed by a continuous pilgrimage of faithful from Italy and abroad.
The festival represents not only a religious recurrence but also an important occasion for meeting between cultures and peoples. The streets of Assisi come alive with pilgrims, families, parish groups, and young people who share an experience of faith inspired by the values of fraternity, simplicity, and mercy, the same ones that Saint Francis transmitted to the world over eight hundred years ago.
Visiting Assisi during the Pardon means immersing yourself in a unique atmosphere, where the silence of the Porziuncola alternates with the joy of community celebrations. It is an invitation to rediscover the authentic meaning of forgiveness as an opportunity for personal and spiritual rebirth, in one of the most beloved places in Christendom.
The 2026 edition promises to be particularly well-attended precisely because of its inclusion in the Franciscan Year dedicated to the 8th Centenary of the death of Saint Francis, an anniversary that will once again make Assisi the center of world Franciscan spirituality and a reference point for those who wish to live an experience of faith, peace, and reconciliation.
