Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition in Venice 2026: schedule

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Summer in Venice is not only about walking through picturesque streets, enjoying an aperitivo overlooking the Grand Canal or attending major cultural events. There is also a more authentic side of Venice that comes to life, especially between the end of July and the beginning of August, through the traditional festivals celebrated on the islands of the Venetian Lagoon.

Among them, the Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition in Venice 2026, known in Italian as the Festa della Madonna dell’Apparizione di Pellestrina 2026, is one of the celebrations most closely connected with the history, faith and identity of the local community. So, the 2026 edition takes place from Sunday, July 26 to Tuesday, August 4, 2026, on the island of Pellestrina and is part of the official “Le Città in Festa” programme promoted by the Municipality of Venice. The event is organised by the Ognissanti Parish of Pellestrina and the Madonna dell’Apparizione Festival Committee, with a programme combining religious celebrations, sports activities, music, exhibitions, community events and food.

For visitors staying in Venice during these days, it can therefore be an excellent opportunity to leave the most popular tourist routes behind and discover one of the lagoon’s most distinctive islands.

Find out all on dates, program and information in this guide.

Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition in Venice 2026: dates and location

The Festa della Madonna dell’Apparizione 2026 takes place in Pellestrina from July 26 to August 4, with events held in different areas of the island, particularly Piazzale del Santuario and Piazzale Zendrini, two of the main venues of the celebration.

The festival has a particularly important role for the local community. The Municipality of Venice recalls that the celebration is linked to the tradition of the apparition of the Madonna on August 4, 1716, when, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to Natalino Scarpa, a young boy from Pellestrina, during a particularly difficult period for the Venetian Republic. The anniversary is still celebrated every year on August 4 and remains an important part of the island’s historical and religious heritage.

The 2026 edition preserves this dual identity: on one side, the religious and devotional dimension; on the other, a community celebration featuring sport, music, social gatherings, food and traditional activities.

The programme of the Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition 2026

The official programme published by the Municipality of Venice includes ten days of events designed both for the people of Pellestrina and for visitors coming to the island specifically for the celebration.

Sunday, July 26: exhibitions open

The festival begins on Sunday, July 26, with the opening of the Lace Exhibition and the photographic exhibition dedicated to Natalino Zennaro. The opening immediately highlights two important aspects of local identity: traditional craftsmanship and community memory.

Lace is one of the traditional cultural expressions associated with Pellestrina. Venezia Unica also highlights lace and the island’s cultural heritage among the distinctive elements of a visit to Pellestrina.

Monday, July 27 and Tuesday, July 28: religious events

On Monday, July 27, the programme includes the Rosary, while Tuesday, July 28 continues with the XII Stella alla Madonna dell’Apparizione, both part of the religious dimension of the festival.

For visitors, these events offer an opportunity to understand why the celebration is much more than a traditional summer festival: it is deeply rooted in the history and identity of the local community.

Wednesday, July 29: pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Apparition

One of the central events is the pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Apparition, scheduled for Wednesday, July 29. It is one of the main religious appointments listed in the official 2026 programme.

The pilgrimage is one of the most significant expressions of devotion associated with the festival and is connected to a tradition that has accompanied the community for more than three centuries.

Friday, July 31: sport and the opening of the food stand

On Friday, July 31, the programme introduces a strong sporting element with the beginning of the 6-a-side mixed volleyball tournament.

The food stand at Piazzale Zendrini also opens on the same day. According to the official 2026 programme, it will be operating on July 31 and from August 1 to August 4, both for lunch and dinner.

For travellers looking for a more informal way to experience Pellestrina, this is one of the most interesting aspects of the celebration, as food and conviviality are an important part of the local festival atmosphere.

Saturday, August 1: Pellestrina Music Fitness 2026

On August 1, the programme becomes more contemporary with Pellestrina Music Fitness 2026, a music-based walk through the island with headphones, combined with guided fitness activities. The same day also features a Briscola tournament, bringing a more traditional and social dimension to the programme.

It is one of the events that best demonstrates how the festival combines local traditions with contemporary activities, attracting different generations and audiences.

Sunday, August 2: the 2026 Pellestrina Regatta

For anyone interested in Venetian traditions and Voga alla Veneta, one of the dates to mark on the calendar is the Pellestrina Regatta, scheduled for Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 3:45 pm. The event is part of the Municipality of Venice’s official 2026 Rowing Season.

The competition includes four categories: young female competitors on two-oared mascarete, young male competitors on two-oared pupparini, women on two-oared mascarete and men on two-oared pupparini.

The course starts near Cantiere Menetto, continues along the Pellestrina Canal and includes a turn around the “paeto” near the former slaughterhouse in the La Mara area before returning to the finish line in front of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Apparition.

For travellers looking for an authentic Venetian rowing event away from the more famous competitions in the historic centre, this regatta is certainly worth considering.

Monday, August 3: music and dancing

The evening of Monday, August 3 is dedicated to music and dancing, with an evening featuring the Roberto Polisano orchestra. It is one of the liveliest events in the programme and takes place on the eve of the festival’s main religious celebration.

It is also an easy way to experience the social character of the celebration, when the island’s community comes together to enjoy music and spend time together.

Tuesday, August 4: the final day of the celebration

August 4, 2026, is the culmination of the Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition in Venice 2026, as it coincides with the day dedicated to the Madonna dell’Apparizione and the tradition linked to the apparition of 1716.

The official programme includes a Solemn Mass, the Regatta of the sestieri on caorline boats, the lottery draw and, as the grand finale, a fireworks display.

The combination of religious ceremonies, rowing traditions and evening celebrations perfectly captures the identity of the festival: a religious anniversary that has also become one of Pellestrina’s most important community celebrations.

How to get to Pellestrina from Venice in 2026

Pellestrina cannot be reached directly from Venice’s historic centre in the same way as some of the better-known lagoon islands. However, it is connected to Venice’s public transport network through line 11.

Venezia Unica explains that the island can be reached by motorboat from Chioggia or from Venice by travelling to Lido and then continuing by bus on line 11.

ACTV describes line 11 as an integrated boat and bus service connecting Chioggia, Pellestrina and Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta, crossing the island and connecting it with the Lido transport network.

For summer 2026, ACTV has also introduced an enhanced line 11 service. Since May 30, the night departures at 12:45 am from Chioggia to Pellestrina and 1:10 am from Pellestrina to Chioggia operate every day.

As transport arrangements can change during major local celebrations, it is always advisable to check the latest ACTV timetable before setting off, particularly if you plan to return to Venice late in the evening. The official AVM website provides updated information on line 11 and the wider navigation network.

Why visit Pellestrina during the festival?

The Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition 2026 offers a different perspective on the Venice known to most international visitors. Pellestrina is an island with a strong local identity, shaped by traditions linked to fishing, lace-making, rowing and life in the lagoon. Its landscape and atmosphere are very different from the monumental Venice of St. Mark’s Square and the Grand Canal.

The Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition 2026 is therefore an opportunity to combine a visit to the island with an event that directly involves the local community through religious ceremonies, sport, music, gastronomy and traditional Venetian culture.

For anyone planning a trip to Venice between the end of July and the beginning of August, August 4, 2026 is naturally the most symbolic date, while the period from July 31 to August 4 brings together many of the festival’s sporting, gastronomic and musical events.

Where to eat during the Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition in Pellestrina 2026

The official food offering is centred around the food stand at Piazzale Zendrini, which the Municipality of Venice lists as open on July 31 and August 1, 2, 3 and 4, for both lunch and dinner.

For visitors, this can be a pleasant way to experience the informal side of local food culture and community life during a festival that brings together religious traditions, sports, music and social activities.

Travellers who prefer a more traditional restaurant experience can also plan their return towards Venice or Lido and combine their trip to Pellestrina with dinner in the historic centre.

Conclusion

The Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition in Venice 2026 is another reminder that Venice is much more than St. Mark’s Square, Rialto and the Grand Canal. Its identity also lives on in the islands of the lagoon and in the community festivals that continue to bring residents and visitors together year after year.

From July 26 to August 4, 2026, Pellestrina becomes a meeting point for religious traditions, Venetian culture, sport, music and conviviality. The key date is August 4, with the Solemn Mass, the Regatta of the sestieri, the lottery and fireworks, while the Pellestrina Regatta takes place on August 2 at 3:45 pm.

For travellers looking for a more authentic and less conventional experience during their stay in Venice, Pellestrina definitely deserves a place on the itinerary.

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