Gabriele Bella, Fat Thursday Celebration in the Piazzetta, 1779-1792, Oil on canvas, Venice, Pinacoteca Querini Stampalia

The 2026 Venice Carnival will take place from January 31 to February 17 under the title Olympus – At the Origins of the Game. The theme responds to the Olympic year and frames a dialogue between the historic Carnival and the symbolic universe of the Games, positioning play as a foundational element of both sport and popular festivity. The reference to Olympus evokes mythological origins, when competition between mortals and gods carried ritual and symbolic weight. Within this framework, Carnival reconsiders play as a collective practice that shapes community, echoing Venice’s own history of public contests, open-air performances and civic spectacles. The program includes the traditional water procession, events across different districts of the city, street performances and choreographic moments inspired by the Olympic theme. Alongside established celebrations, the 2026 edition emphasizes participation, with initiatives aimed at families and younger audiences, extending activities between the historic center and the mainland. The connection with the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games introduces a reflection on values associated with sport, including inclusion and respect for rules, without reducing the festival to mere commemoration. Carnival retains its historical identity while engaging with a contemporary context in which play once again becomes a space of shared representation and civic encounter.

© 2026 ARTE.it for Nozio Business