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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Arsenale Water Show: "The Call of Olympia"
The Arsenale Water Show, titled "Il Richiamo di Olympia" (The Call of Olympia), transformed the Arsenale's Darsena Grande into an open-air stage . The spectacle, inspired by the epic story of the Olympic Games, featured a journey of challenge, dream, and magnificent conquest, with performances combining light, dance, and water . The show ran on select dates: February 6-8 and February 12-17, with performances at 6:45 PM and 9:00 PM .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
La Maschera Più Bella: The Most Beautiful Mask Competition
The "La Maschera più bella" competition, celebrating the artistry of costumers and mask-makers, ran throughout the Carnival, with parades in St. Mark's Square starting January 31 . Participants paraded in sumptuous costumes featuring precious details, with the contest continuing until the selection of the best mask at the end of the Carnival . The competition is part of a broader program preserving Venetian craftsmanship traditions
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Festa Veneziana: Grand Water Parade Officially Opens Carnival
The Festa Veneziana water parade officially opened the Carnival on Sunday, February 1 . Around one hundred traditional boats, richly decorated and rowed by costumed rowers, paraded from Punta della Dogana to Rialto . The procession was led by the historic Pantegana boat, which released confetti beneath the Rialto Bridge . The arrival at Erbaria was celebrated with music, dancing, and traditional food .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Grand Ball with Bridgerton Opens Carnival with 1800s Elegance
The Grand Ball with Bridgerton was the first major event, held on January 31 in St. Mark's Square from 5 to 7 PM . The square transformed into a floral stage with dancers wearing period costumes inspired by the world of the series. The public was invited to become "bridesmaids and knights" in a romantic 1800s-inspired dream . A vertical dance performance with artists suspended on heliospheres added a spectacular visual element .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Venice Carnival Street Show: Contemporary Agora of Games
The Venice Carnival Street Show transformed the city into a contemporary "agora" with widespread performances in Venice and Mestre throughout the Carnival . Artists performed as jugglers, acrobats, and dancers across various locations. In St. Mark's Square, the Duo Celadin Zanetti paid tribute to the Olympic theme with "Olimpo in Musica" . In Mestre's Piazza Ferretto, the "Mascherina più bella" competition took place alongside performances from Cometa Circus and L'arte del gioco .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Selection of the 12 Marie: Young Ambassadors of Venetian Tradition
The selection of the 12 Marie took place on January 31 at the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista . An eleven-member jury, chaired by Carnival Artistic Director Massimo Checchetto, selected the 12 young women who served as ambassadors of Venetian tradition throughout the Carnival . The Marie appeared in public spaces wearing sumptuous costumes, participating in parades and official events until February 17 . Applications were open until January 29.
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
2026 Carnival Dedicated to Olympic Theme "Olympus – The Origins of the Game
The 2026 edition was dedicated to the theme "Olympus – The Origins of the Game", celebrating the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games . The theme wove together myth, history, art, and sport, placing games at centre stage as the origin of celebration, competition, and community. The Carnival was officially included in the Cultural Olympiad program of Milan-Cortina 2026 , a multidisciplinary initiative promoting Olympic values through culture.
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
The Pantegana: Giant Rat Leads Water Parade as Carnival Symbol
A giant paper-mâché rat known as the "Pantegana" led the traditional water parade along the Grand Canal on February 1, marking the official start of the Carnival . The Pantegana, a long-standing symbol of the Venice Carnival, released confetti as it passed beneath the Rialto Bridge . Around one hundred traditional boats, richly decorated and rowed by costumed rowers, paraded from Punta della Dogana to Rialto .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Venice Carnival 2026 Opens with Grand Ball and Bridgerton Collaboration
The 2026 Venice Carnival officially kicked off on January 31 with the spectacular "Gran Ballo di Carnevale con Bridgerton" in St. Mark's Square, produced in collaboration with Netflix to promote the fourth season of the hit series . The square was transformed into an elegant open-air salon, featuring professional dancers in early 19th-century costumes who guided the audience in collective choreography. A breathtaking vertical dance performance with artists suspended on heliospheres left the crowd spellbound .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
A Celebration of Venetian Tradition
Beyond the themed events, the Venice Carnival remained a celebration of the city's cultural heritage. The traditional Flight of the Angel, where a costumed performer descends from St. Mark's Campanile into the square, was scheduled for the final days of the Carnival . The Festa delle Marie is another key ritual based on a historical event when the Doge gifted jewelry to twelve brides . The event celebrates Venice's maritime history and its tradition of community celebration . The mayor described the Carnival as an event that "enhances tradition while at the same time looking to the future, reaffirming Venice as an international capital of culture, creativity and civil coexistence."
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