From motorways to cigarettes, from parcels to financial transactions, 2026 opens under the banner of price increases. In fact, from today a flurry of increases will be triggered, partly also linked to the measures introduced by the budget law.
Positive note: road fines will not increase, thanks to the suspension of the biennial update provided for by the Milleproroghe decree.
Here are the increases – and the averted price increases – coming soon:
– RISES AT THE TOLLBOARD. For tolls comes the tariff adjustment to inflation. It is equal to 1.5% and is applied to almost all motorway concessions. The exceptions are the companies Concessioni del Tirreno (A10 and A12 section), Ivrea-Turin-Piacenza (A5 and A21 section) and Strada dei Parchi (A24-A25 Rome L’Aquila motorways and Torano-Pescara branch), for which there are no toll changes to be paid by motorists. On the Salerno-Pompei-Naples concession, however, rates will rise by 1.925%; while on the Brenner motorway – with the concession expired and the re-awarding underway (the tender procedure is open) – tolls will increase by 1.46%.
– MOST DEARLY BLONDES. The budget law introduces the progressive increase in the three-year period 2026-2028 of the fixed minimum amount of excise duties on cigarettes, cigarillos and cut tobacco. For cigarettes, the measure will translate into a price increase for all price ranges: on average around 15 cents per pack for 2026, around 25 cents per pack for 2027 and around 40 from 2028. The increases will also be triggered for electronic cigarettes.
– MORE EXPENSIVE DIESEL. The maneuver also establishes the equalization of the excise duty rates on petrol and diesel used as fuel. Consequently, from January there will be a reduction in the excise duty on petrol of 4.05 euro cents per liter and a corresponding increase in that on diesel used as fuel. Also considering VAT – Staffetta Quotidiana calculates – the impact on prices will be around five cents per litre, bringing petrol to 1.73 euros per liter and diesel to 1.784 euros per litre.
– THE TOURIST TAX RISES. Also in 2026, as established by the budget, municipalities will be able to increase the tourist tax paid by those who stay in accommodation facilities in their territory, up to 2 euros per night. Furthermore, based on a provision of the advances decree, the municipalities of Lombardy and Veneto no more than 30 kilometers from the venues where the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games will take place will be able to establish the tax or increase it by a maximum of 5 euros.
– INSURANCE. The rate on additional policies for risks of injury to the driver and risk of roadside assistance for new or renewed contracts rises to 12.5%.
– PARCEL TAX. The 2 euro contribution applies on shipments under 150 euros arriving from non-EU countries.
– FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS. The rate of the tax on financial transactions, the so-called Tobin tax, doubles (from 0.2% to 0.4%).
– NO RAISES FOR FINES. The Milleproroghe decree suspends the biennial update of the sanctions provided for by the highway code for the whole of 2026.
– SAVE EMILIA-ROMAGNA AIRPORTS. Those traveling to some airports in Emilia-Romagna will not be burdened by the boarding tax: the measure in fact provides for exemption from the payment of the municipal surcharge on boarding fees at the airports of Rimini, Forlì and Parma.
– POSTPONE SUGAR AND PLASTIC TAX. The introduction of the tax on sweetened drinks and that on single-use plastic has been averted, both deferred to January 1, 2027.