US EditionGiant Rat Leads Floating Parade to Kick Off Venice Carnival 2026
The giant papier-mâché rat Pantegana led about 100 rowing boats in a colorful procession on Venice’s Grand Canal, culminating in a streamer explosion at Rialto Bridge.
- On Sunday, February 1, 2026, the Festa Veneziana officially launched Venice Carnival 2026 with a staged procession on the Grand Canal led by Pantegana and about one hundred rowing boats.
- Under the official theme `Olympus`, the festival emphasizes Venice's oldest traditions reworked for modern audiences.
- To clear the route, ACTV Lines 1 and 2 saw temporary schedule adjustments so masked rowers had centre stage at Erbaria after the parade, which featured coloured smoke, balloons, and confetti.
- The opening Sunday shifted energy to Piazza San Marco as crowds gathered on bridges and canal banks, setting a high bar for Carnival season programming.
- Between several hundred thousand and one million people are expected to attend, with the busiest days on the final weekend and Shrove Tuesday, as the carnival runs until February 17.
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Video. Venice carnival begins with colorful boat parade and nod to 2026 Olympics
Video. Italy’s most famous carnival opened in Venice with a floating parade on the Grand Canal. Crowds watched as decorated boats and rowers in costume passed by. The carnival, themed “Olympus,” is tied to the 2026 Winter Olympics and runs until 17 February.
Venice kicks off 15 days of Carnival festivities
It's the most colorful time of the year - at least in Venice… The Italian city has kicked off its annual Carnival festivities. The event draws thousands of tourists eager to party and purchase one of Venice's famous handmade masks. Story by Shirli Sitbon.
On Sunday the start of the party with the regatta of 140 boats and 800 rowers in costume along the Grand Canal: thousands crowded the banks up to Rialto. In Erbaria, pancakes and galans for everyone
Venice Carnival 2026 kicks off with an exploding rat
The waters of the Grand Canal transformed into an awesome stage on Sunday morning, February 1, as the Venice Carnival 2026 officially launched with its most iconic canal event: the Festa Veneziana. With the upcoming Italian Winter Olympic Games days away, the festival launched under the official theme “Olympus – The Origins of the Game”, and the city returned to its authentic roots… Source
It was the "Gran Ballo di Carnevale con Bridgerton," an event realized in collaboration with Netflix on the occasion of the launch of the fourth season of the series, to open in Piazza San Marco the Carnival of Venice 2026, inspired by the theme "Olympus - Alle ori... (ANSA)
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