Carnevale di Venezia
February
A masked ball of gargantuan proportions, Venice’s world-famous Carnevale takes place in the run-up to Lent (10 days up to Shrove Tuesday), with St Mark’s Square filling with costumed entertainers, live musicians and other performers. Private masked balls take place all over the city, alongside open-air alternatives.
Vogalonga
May
Created as a reaction to the number of motorised vessels on the waterways, Vogalonga sees thousands of wooden boats and other human-powered craft compete in a rowing ‘race’ along a route stretching more than 30km. It always takes place on a Sunday.
Festa de San Piero de Casteo
June
An intimate week-long shindig that retains a small-town atmosphere with its puppet shows, fairground attractions, food stalls and live musical performances, all centred on the ‘village green’ outside the church of San Piero.
Venezia Jazz Festival
July
Venice’s leading jazz festival draws leading names on the world scene to the City of Water, with trumpets tootling and saxes swinging not just in Venice but in the wider region too.
Venice International Film Festival
August-September
Rightly seen as one of the world’s premier film festivals (it is in fact the oldest international festival of its kind anywhere), the Venice International Film Festival takes place on the Lido and sees films battle it out to win the prestigious Leone d’Oro (Golden Lion).