Venice Carnival

The Venice Carnival returns from 23 January to 9 February 2027, ending on Shrove Tuesday (Martedì Grasso), the day before Lent. It is promoted by the City of Venice (Comune di Venezia) and organised by Vela, the city's events company. The official site traces the first evidence of the Carnival to 1094; it was revived in 1979 after almost two centuries of absence, and it still means theatre, masks and costumes, traditional sweets and parties in private palaces.

This edition

The full 2027 programme and theme have not been published yet. What is confirmed: the Venice Carnival Street Show, the programme of performers in the city's squares, runs on 23–24 January, 30–31 January and 4–9 February 2027, and the Official Dinner Show at Ca' Vendramin Calergi runs on 30 and 31 January and from 4 to 9 February 2027. The two opening weekends and the final six days, from Giovedì Grasso (4 February) to Shrove Tuesday, are when most events are scheduled.

Last edition

The 2026 edition, themed on the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, opened with a ball in Piazza San Marco and the Festa Veneziana, a procession of about a hundred decorated rowing boats along the Grand Canal from Punta della Dogana to Rialto. It also included the selection of the 12 Marie, the best-mask contest in Piazza San Marco, allegorical floats on the mainland and in the lagoon islands, and street shows across Venice and Mestre. Expect a similar shape in 2027, but check the official site for the confirmed events.

Fly into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). Alilaguna runs boats from the airport into the historic centre: the Blue Line stops at Murano, Fondamente Nove, Lido, San Zaccaria, San Marco (Giardinetti) and Venezia Santa Lucia station, and the Orange Line runs via Guglie and Rialto to Santa Maria del Giglio. The Red Line is a summer service, and winter timetables apply from 28 October 2026, so check alilaguna.it. Buses also run from the airport to Piazzale Roma, where the ACTV waterbus network starts.

Trains end at Venezia Santa Lucia on the Grand Canal. Within Venice there are no roads: you walk or take the ACTV vaporetto (waterbus). Buy ACTV tourist tickets (1, 2, 3 or 7 days) in advance on Venezia Unica to avoid queues; the all-inclusive versions include the Marco Polo transfer. If you buy a ticket on board, tell the crew straight away to avoid a fine. Traghetti (gondola ferries) cross the Grand Canal at Santa Sofia, San Tomà, Santa Maria del Giglio and Punta della Dogana for €2.

Access fee: the City of Venice charges day visitors an access fee on selected days. In 2026 it applied between 3 April and 26 July only, so not during Carnival; the 2027 calendar is set by the city, so check cda.ve.it before you travel. See our Venice guide.

Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights.