The Venice Carnival 2026, running from January 31 to February 17, will once again transform the city into the world’s most admired stage. If you are planning your trip, you already know that the beating heart of the celebrations is St. Mark’s Square.
This year’s edition will be special: due to essential restoration and maintenance works around the Bell Tower area, the traditional aerial shows (such as the Flight of the Angel and the Flight of the Lion) will not take place. But don’t worry—this absence has inspired the organizers to create an even more spectacular ground-level theatrical setting. The show comes down “to human height,” allowing visitors to admire costumes and performers up close, without the static crowds of past years.
Here is Venice City Tours’ selection of unmissable events to mark on your calendar, combining great classics with hidden historical gems.
1. Saturday, February 7: The Feast of the Maries
The beginning of magic and tradition
Approximate time: from 4:00 pm in St. Mark’s Square
This event marks the true start of Carnival. The historical reenactment recalls the tribute once paid by the Doge to twelve young Venetian women of humble origins, gifting them jewels for their weddings. The historical procession, made up of hundreds of performers, starts in San Pietro di Castello, follows the Riva degli Schiavoni, and triumphantly reaches St. Mark’s Square in the afternoon. Here, the twelve “Maries” are officially presented to the public.
Why attend: A triumph of Renaissance costumes and colors. Watching the procession enter the square feels like stepping into a Canaletto painting.
2. Sunday, February 8: Carnival “On the Ground”
The replacement show for the Flight of the Angel
Time: 12:00 pm (main event)
Without the descent from the Bell Tower, the first Sunday of Carnival becomes a celebration of scenic creativity. The large stage set up between the Columns of St. Mark and St. Theodore will host parades, historical dances, and artistic performances.
Expert tip: Without the need to look up at the sky, enjoy the square more freely. It’s the perfect day to photograph the most elaborate masks gathered near the Bell Tower.
3. Fat Thursday (February 12): The Cutting of the Bull’s Head
Legend, history, and spectacle
Time: around 5:30 pm
If you are looking for an event that blends folklore with real history, don’t miss this one. It reenacts the 1162 victory of Doge Michiel II over the Patriarch of Aquileia. As a sign of submission, the Patriarch was required to send the Doge a bull and twelve pigs every year. The ceremony culminated in the cutting of the bull’s head in the square, giving rise to the famous Venetian expression “tagiar la testa al toro” (to settle a matter once and for all). Today, it is a theatrical, evocative, and suitably macabre performance—perfect for experiencing the most authentic side of Carnival.
4. A Dive into the Past: Soldiers, Duels, and the Doge
Historical reenactments (recurring afternoon events)
St. Mark’s Square is not just about fantasy masks—it is also the history of the Serenissima. Thanks to collaboration with C.E.R.S. (European Consortium of Historical Reenactments), during the afternoons of the “fat” days (especially Thursday the 12th and Saturday the 14th), the stage transforms into:
Armed combats: Historical fencing demonstrations and sword duels in authentic 15th- and 16th-century costumes.
The Lords of the Night: A reenactment of the ancient magistracies that once patrolled the city.
The Doge’s Procession: During major events, the solemn entrance of the Serenissimo Prince accompanied by Senators, dignitaries, and noble ladies—an unmissable moment for historical photography lovers.
5. Fat Tuesday (February 17): The Grand Finale
The crowning of the Maria and farewell to Carnival
Time: afternoon
This is the final act before the silence of Lent. In a crowded yet festive square, the Maria of the Year 2026 is elected from the twelve finalists presented on the first Saturday. Immediately afterward, the closing ceremony takes place. Since the banner of St. Mark cannot “fly” toward the Bell Tower (for the same technical reasons as the Flight of the Angel), the ritual will take place solemnly on stage. The great banner of the Winged Lion will rise amid trumpet fanfares, while the entire square sings the Hymn of St. Mark—a deeply moving collective farewell to Carnival.
