ROME, ITALY / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, Italy experienced its hottest summer since 1950, with the average temperature across the nation reaching 24.3 degrees Celsius. The National Research Council’s Institute for Bioeconomy confirmed that this figure surpasses the previous record set in 2003, when summer temperatures averaged 23.6 degrees Celsius nationwide. The 2026 summer, spanning June through August, is based on temperatures measured two metres above ground level. This finding places the season at the top of Italy’s 76-year temperature record series.
August was the peak month for heat. The country’s average temperature in August hit 25.6 degrees Celsius, surpassing the 1951-1980 August average by 5.2 degrees. It was also 3.5 degrees higher than the August average for 1991-2020. According to the Institute for Bioeconomy, August 2026 broke previous monthly records of 24.6 degrees in 2024 and 24.0 degrees in 2017. The climate dataset used for this analysis is ECMWF’s ERA5-Land.
Both July and August 2026 are ranked as the hottest months recorded in the dataset, based on the institute’s heat maps. These record temperatures follow a spring season that also set a new high, with Italy’s national average reaching 12.1 degrees Celsius. Spring 2024 matched that seasonal record. From January to August, every month in 2026 was warmer than the same month in 2025. This sequence of higher temperatures extended Italy’s hot weather across much of the year.
August Sets New Temperature Records
Temperature anomalies affected much of Italy during the first eight months of 2026. Around 70% of the country’s territory experienced anomalies over 1 degree Celsius, while about 40% exceeded 2 degrees. The highest concentrations of these anomalies appeared across northwestern plains and regions along the Apennines, which include large agricultural areas. Elevated temperatures and drought conditions impacted some farming zones during this period. Cities like Rome, Florence, and Turin also faced repeated heatwaves in June, July, and August.
These records are based on ERA5-Land data provided by ECMWF. This climate dataset offers land-surface climate information dating back to 1950. Researchers analyzed the data to compare temperatures across Italy over the entire period. Italy’s summer average of 24.3 degrees was 0.7 degrees higher than the 2003 record. August’s 25.6-degree reading also beat the 2024 monthly record by 1.0 degree. These measurements refer to air temperature at two metres above the surface.
Climate Data Highlights Extensive Temperature Rise in Italy
The wider Mediterranean region also faced extraordinary heat during summer 2026. An independent analysis linked to Italy’s National Research Council found that sea-surface temperatures in the Mediterranean averaged approximately 27 degrees Celsius in July. This was the highest July average since 1993. The study revealed that 79% of the Mediterranean experienced at least one strong or more intense marine heatwave. These marine temperature figures are separate from the land-based temperature series used to establish Italy’s national summer record.
Italy’s record summer occurred amid widespread heat across Europe. Climate assessments across the continent identify Europe as the fastest-warming region in recent decades. Droughts and wildfires impacted several European areas during the summer of 2026. Italy’s season followed months of above-average temperatures, including the hottest July and August in the dataset. The official figures confirm summer 2026 as Italy’s hottest meteorological summer since the ERA5-Land series began in 1950.