{"id":25274,"date":"2026-02-07T17:41:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T16:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.venicecitytours.it\/non-categorizzato\/carnevale-di-venezia-2026-i-top-eventi-in-piazza-san-marco\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T18:19:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T17:19:54","slug":"venice-carnival-2026-top-events-in-st-marks-square-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.venicecitytours.it\/en\/carnival\/venice-carnival-2026-top-events-in-st-marks-square-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Venice Carnival 2026: Top Events in St. Mark\u2019s Square"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Venice Carnival 2026, running from January 31 to February 17, will once again transform the city into the world\u2019s most admired stage. If you are planning your trip, you already know that the beating heart of the celebrations is St. Mark\u2019s Square.<\/p>

This year\u2019s 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\u2019t worry\u2014this absence has inspired the organizers to create an even more spectacular ground-level theatrical setting. The show comes down \u201cto human height,\u201d allowing visitors to admire costumes and performers up close, without the static crowds of past years.<\/p>

Here is Venice City Tours\u2019 selection of unmissable events to mark on your calendar, combining great classics with hidden historical gems.<\/p>

1. Saturday, February 7: The Feast of the Maries<\/h3>

The beginning of magic and tradition<\/strong>
Approximate time: from 4:00 pm in St. Mark\u2019s Square<\/em><\/p>

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\u2019s Square in the afternoon. Here, the twelve \u201cMaries\u201d are officially presented to the public.
Why attend:<\/strong> A triumph of Renaissance costumes and colors. Watching the procession enter the square feels like stepping into a Canaletto painting.<\/p>

2. Sunday, February 8: Carnival \u201cOn the Ground\u201d<\/h3>

The replacement show for the Flight of the Angel<\/strong>
Time: 12:00 pm (main event)<\/em><\/p>

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:<\/strong> Without the need to look up at the sky, enjoy the square more freely. It\u2019s the perfect day to photograph the most elaborate masks gathered near the Bell Tower.<\/p>

3. Fat Thursday (February 12): The Cutting of the Bull\u2019s Head<\/h3>

Legend, history, and spectacle<\/strong>
Time: around 5:30 pm<\/em><\/p>

If you are looking for an event that blends folklore with real history, don\u2019t 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\u2019s head in the square, giving rise to the famous Venetian expression \u201ctagiar la testa al toro\u201d (to settle a matter once and for all). Today, it is a theatrical, evocative, and suitably macabre performance\u2014perfect for experiencing the most authentic side of Carnival.<\/p>

4. A Dive into the Past: Soldiers, Duels, and the Doge<\/h3>

Historical reenactments (recurring afternoon events)<\/strong><\/p>

St. Mark\u2019s Square is not just about fantasy masks\u2014it 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 \u201cfat\u201d days (especially Thursday the 12th and Saturday the 14th), the stage transforms into:<\/p>