Venice Events & Festivals Calendar
Venice’s cultural calendar is packed with centuries-old traditions, world-class arts events, and spectacular celebrations. Here’s what’s on, month by month.
January
New Year’s Day: Traditional swim at the Lido. Epiphany (January 6): Regata delle Befane on the Grand Canal with costumed rowers. The quietest tourist month.
February
Carnevale di Venezia: The big one. Two weeks of masked balls, costume parades, and street performances. Piazza San Marco becomes a stage. The Flight of the Angel opens the festival. Book everything 6+ months ahead. Hotel prices triple.
March
Festa di San Giuseppe (March 19): Traditional zeppole pastries everywhere. Su e Zo per i Ponti: Non-competitive walk across Venice’s bridges. Easter celebrations if the date falls in March.
April
Festa di San Marco (April 25): Venice’s patron saint. Men give a bocolo (rosebud) to their beloved. St. Mark’s Square fills with rose sellers. Also Liberation Day in Italy.
May
La Biennale Art Exhibition opens (odd-numbered years). The world’s most prestigious contemporary art event. Vogalonga: Massive non-competitive row through the lagoon. Festa della Sensa: Venice’s symbolic marriage to the sea with a water parade.
June
Biennale continues (odd years). Art Night Venezia: Late-night museum openings and performances across the city.
July
Festa del Redentore: Third Sunday. Temporary pontoon bridge to Giudecca island. Massive fireworks over the Bacino di San Marco. Venetians picnic in decorated boats. One of the city’s most beloved events.
August
Ferragosto (August 15): National holiday. Many local restaurants close. Venice Film Festival preparations begin on the Lido.
September
Venice Film Festival: Late August into early September at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido. Regata Storica: First Sunday. Historic boat parade followed by competitive rowing races on the Grand Canal.
October
Biennale continues (odd years). Venice Marathon: Late October crossing floating bridges over the lagoon.
November
Festa della Salute (November 21): Commemorates the end of the 1630 plague. A temporary pontoon bridge crosses to the Salute church. Biennale closes (odd years).
December
Christmas Markets: Campo Santo Stefano and elsewhere. Handmade gifts, mulled wine. New Year’s Eve: Fireworks over the lagoon. A collective kiss at midnight in Piazza San Marco.
