Venice Events
Experience Carnival, contemporary art, historic celebrations, rowing traditions and one of the world's leading film festivals.
LOCAL CULTURE
Festivals & Events
Venice’s major events can completely change the atmosphere of the city. Carnival is the obvious example, but the Biennale, Venice Film Festival and historic celebrations also draw visitors from around the world. If your dates coincide with a major event, decide whether participating in it is part of the reason for your trip or whether the additional crowds are something you would rather avoid. Either way, check the event calendar before choosing your dates and accommodation.
THROUGH THE YEAR
Event Highlights
A selection of festivals, seasonal celebrations and cultural experiences to consider when planning your visit. Check official event or venue websites for current dates, programs and ticket information.
Venice Carnival · Late Winter · Citywide
Masks, historic costumes and elaborate celebrations transform Venice during Carnival. My own first planned trip to Venice was supposed to be for Carnival when I was about sixteen, but a broken arm forced me to cancel it. The festival remains one of the city’s defining traditions—and one of its busiest periods.
Tip: Reserve accommodation far ahead if Carnival is the reason for your visit, and expect the greatest crowds around Piazza San Marco.
Venice Biennale · Spring–Autumn · Giardini & Arsenale
The Venice Biennale’s principal art and architecture exhibitions alternate between years. The main venues are the Giardini and Arsenale, with additional exhibitions in palaces and galleries around the city. Even if the Biennale is not the main reason for your trip, you may encounter exhibitions simply while exploring the city.
Tip: If you plan to visit the main Biennale venues, allow plenty of time—the Giardini and Arsenale are substantial destinations rather than quick stops.
Plan your visit: Venice Carnival · Biennale dates, tickets and venues.
Rialto Bridge over Venice’s Grand Canal, along the route of the Regata Storica
Festa del Redentore · July · Giudecca & Venice Lagoon
The Festa del Redentore is one of Venice’s great traditional celebrations, commemorating the end of the devastating 16th-century plague. A temporary pontoon bridge connects Venice with the Church of the Redentore on Giudecca, while boats gather across the lagoon for an evening that culminates in a spectacular fireworks display.
Tip: Expect very large crowds on Saturday evening and plan where you want to watch the fireworks—and how you will get back—well in advance.
Venice Film Festival · Late August–September · Lido
One of the world’s oldest and most prestigious film festivals takes place on the Lido rather than in Venice’s historic center. International filmmakers, actors and media arrive for premieres and screenings, giving this normally more relaxed island a very different atmosphere during the festival.
Tip: Check festival dates when planning a late-summer stay on the Lido, particularly if you are looking for accommodation there.
Plan your visit: Biennale Film Festival tickets and program.
Traditional Venetian mask associated with the Carnival of Venice
Regata Storica · September · Grand Canal
The Regata Storica celebrates Venice’s centuries-old relationship with rowing. A spectacular procession of historic boats is followed by competitive races, turning the Grand Canal itself into the event venue. It is a particularly Venetian combination of ceremony, tradition and sport.
Tip: Choose a viewing location early and check waterbus service changes before planning your return journey.
Festa della Salute · November 21 · Dorsoduro
The Festa della Salute centers on the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and commemorates Venice’s deliverance from the devastating plague of 1630–31. Venetians cross a temporary bridge over the Grand Canal to reach the church, continuing a tradition that has endured for centuries. It offers a very different experience from Venice’s internationally known festivals.
Tip: Approach it as a living local and religious tradition rather than simply another Venetian spectacle.
Plan your visit: Regata Storica.
Venice waterfront at dusk with the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore across the lagoon