Festivals in Venice range from February’s Carnival to summer celebrations and autumn events. Their usual timing can help you choose when to visit, while checking the organisers’ calendars will confirm the dates for your trip.
- Venice Carnival: a 17-day event in February.
- Festa del Redentore: usually the third Sunday in July.
- Regata Storica: usually the first Sunday in September.
- Biennale: its art exhibition takes place at the Giardini, the Arsenale and other locations around Venice.
How Venice’s event calendar works
Venice’s events follow different patterns, so their usual season is a guide rather than a substitute for checking the date. Carnival is associated with February, while the Festa del Redentore and Regata Storica have customary Sundays in summer and early autumn.
The Biennale’s art exhibition uses venues around the city, including the Giardini and Arsenale. The Venice International Film Festival takes place on the Lido di Venezia. These events have distinct settings, so consider the venue as well as the event when planning your days.
Venice Carnival
Venice Carnival is a 17-day February event, with its programme and exact dates varying by edition. The Festa delle Marie and the Flight of the Angel in St Mark’s Square are among the traditional programme elements described for Carnival; water events at the Arsenale and along the Grand Canal are also part of some editions.
Use the Carnival programme to identify the events you want to attend before settling on a day-by-day plan. Check the organisers’ announcements for the current edition’s schedule and locations, since individual programme details can change.
Biennale and spring-to-autumn events
The Venice Biennale’s art exhibition takes place at the Giardini, the Arsenale and other locations around Venice. Its venues make it a citywide event rather than a single-site visit.
Allow time to plan which venues you want to see and how to fit them into your day. If you are focusing on the main exhibition sites, the guide to reaching the Biennale’s Giardini and Arsenale covers those locations.
Festa del Redentore
The Festa del Redentore is traditionally held on the third Sunday of July, with the Church of the Redentore on Giudecca as its focal landmark. The date makes it a summer event to consider when planning a Venice visit.
Check the event’s official announcements for the programme and arrangements for the edition you plan to attend. Its customary date provides a planning reference, but it does not confirm the schedule for a particular year.
Venice International Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival takes place on the Lido di Venezia. Its setting gives it a different feel from events centred on the historic city, so check the festival programme and venue details when choosing screenings.
Ticket prices and availability depend on the screening and venue. Use the festival’s official ticket information to check what is available for your dates.
Regata Storica and Venice Marathon
The Regata Storica is traditionally held on the first Sunday of September, with the Grand Canal as its setting. It is one of the city’s recurring events to look out for when planning an early-autumn visit.
Venicemarathon is another event on Venice’s calendar. Its date is set for each edition, so check the official event calendar before making plans around it.
Checking dates and transport
For any event, confirm the dates, programme, ticket details and venue with the organiser before you book plans around it. Transport arrangements may matter too, particularly for events on the Lido or Giudecca; check the relevant transport operator’s service information for your travel dates.
Venice Park House is a hotel in Mestre, about an 18-minute walk from Venezia Mestre station. If you are using the mainland as your base, plan your onward journey to the event venue from there.
Before you go: Check the official site before you go, including the event organiser’s site for dates and tickets and the transport operator’s site for service information.
FAQs
When is Venice Carnival usually held?
Venice Carnival is traditionally a 17-day event in February. The exact dates vary by edition, so confirm the schedule for the time you plan to visit.
When does the Festa del Redentore take place?
It is traditionally held on the third Sunday of July. Check the organiser’s announcements for the specific programme.
When is the Regata Storica?
The Regata Storica is traditionally held on the first Sunday of September. Check the official calendar for the date of a particular edition.
Where does the Venice International Film Festival take place?
The festival takes place on the Lido di Venezia. Check its official programme for screening venues and ticket information.