When you think of Carnival in Venice, the first thing that comes to mind is masks.

Carnival in Venice is an open-air theatre

11.02.2026

News

When you think of Carnival in Venice, the first thing that comes to mind is masks. Characters suspended between yesterday and today, hidden faces and costumes that seem to dialogue with the city and its history. Every year, between February and March, Venice reminds us that it is much more than a postcard: it is theatre, tradition, play, but also an opportunity to look around with light-heartedness and wonder.

The beauty of the Venice Carnival lies precisely here: it is not a celebration limited to appearances, but a collective ritual that brings together history, art, and community. Venetian masks did not come about by chance: they are the profound symbol of a city that for centuries has lived its public and private life with modesty and irony, transforming anonymity into an art form, and art into a way of being together.

Every year, I continue to be amazed by this festival, because it manages to transform the city into a constant surprise, even when you think you know it well. I remember the first few times I experienced it: the feeling of entering a different Venice, more theatrical, lighter, but at the same time deeply authentic. The masks, the details of the costumes, the hidden glances… everything seems to tell an ancient story, and you find yourself inside that story without even realizing it. Today I look at it more calmly, perhaps with more awareness, but it always leaves me with the same thing: that rare feeling of being in a place that still knows how to change its face without losing its soul.

In 2026, this spirit will be intertwined with a special theme. From January 31 to February 17, the Venice Carnival 2026 returns with the edition “Olympus – Alle origini del gioco” (Olympus – The origins of the game), inspired by the Olympic year we are experiencing with the Milan-Cortina Olympics and Paralympics. It is not just a party: it is an invitation to rediscover Carnival as a game, as creativity, as collective energy that unites myth, history, and movement.

The streets, squares, and canals become the stage for events, parades, shows, and costume walks that transform Venice into an open-air theatre. Elegant masks, curious faces, and details of ancient craftsmanship remind us that Carnival is not just a festival to be seen, but an experience to be lived: crossing St. Mark’s Square, stopping in front of a shop window displaying handmade masks, encountering smiling faces under hats and veils, are small snapshots that remain etched in the memory of those who visit Venice during this period.

And if there is a way to truly experience it, the best starting point is one that immediately puts you in the right rhythm. Suite735 is here for this: a place designed for you to catch your breath, take a break, observe calmly, and let yourself be surprised. Whether you come for the masks, the colors, the atmosphere, or simply to experience Venice in a different way, here you will find a welcoming space from which to start each day.