Venice Carnival 2026 once again celebrated one of the city’s oldest traditions: the Festa delle Marie.

Yet the true beauty of Venice lies not only in its festivities, but in the everyday commitment to preserving a Sustainable Venice — through local initiatives and authentic Venice souvenirs that support the city’s cultural and environmental heritage.

The Festa delle Marie at the Venice Carnival 2026 is one of the most eagerly awaited and significant events in the entire official programme, a moment when history, identity and citizen participation intertwine in the heart of the lagoon.

Who are the Maries of the Venice Carnival?

The Festa delle Marie Festa delle Marie dates back to the year 973, when twelve young Venetian women were kidnapped by Dalmatian pirates during a celebration in the church of San Pietro di Castello.

After a chase organised by Doge Pietro Candiano III, the girls were freed and brought back to Venice. Since then, the city has held an annual celebration in their honour.

Today, the Festa delle Marie of the Venice Carnival is not just a historical re-enactment, but a cultural event that combines memory, beauty and civic spirit. Twelve young women are selected to represent the city throughout the Carnival period, culminating in the election of the Maria dell’Anno (Mary of the Year).

For the 2026 Venice Carnival, the official selection took place at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, kicking off the calendar of events that will accompany the city until the final proclamation in St. Mark’s Square.

The Maries of the Venice Carnival and urban decor

The Venice Carnival 2026 is not just about celebrations and entertainment.

In recent years, the tradition has been enriched by a concrete and deeply meaningful gesture: the participation of the Maries in a city cleaning and maintenance initiative together with volunteers from the Masegni & Nizioleti association, a Venetian non-profit organisation committed to restoring Venice’s urban decorum.

In recent days, the Maries have joined forces with volunteers in a symbolic but concrete action: taking care of the city they represent.

Masegni & Nizioleti and urban decoration

The Masegni & Nizioleti association is composed of Venetian volunteers who actively work to protect and restore the urban decorum of the lagoon city.

Their activities include:

• Cleaning walls and removing graffiti
• Restoring historic Venetian nizioleti
• Cleaning of streets, squares and bridges
• Care and maintenance of public green spaces
• Restoration of degraded areas
• Removal of padlocks from Venice’s bridges, a symbol of a romantic gesture but harmful to the structure and historical heritage
• Awareness-raising actions against urban degradation

Their work is not only technical, but cultural: restoring dignity to places means restoring identity to the city.

In recent months, they have been working in various areas of Venice, carrying out work on bridges, foundations, parish churches and public spaces, involving residents, businesses and young volunteers.

Venice Carnival and active citizenship

The participation of the Maries in cleaning activities represents an ideal bridge between tradition and responsibility.

The Venice Carnival thus demonstrates that it can be not only a celebration of history, but also a concrete commitment to the present.

Beauty and care become two sides of the same coin.

Original gift ideas that support Venice

Venice is not just a city to admire.
It is a city to cherish.

Each of our sustainable design souvenirs inspired by Venice is created to tell its story and, at the same time, make a concrete contribution to its protection.

Since 2019, we have been supporting the Masegni & Nizioleti association, which is committed to cleaning and restoring urban decorum.

Together, the initiative ‘Save Venice Piece by Piece’ was born.

Choosing one of our items means giving an original gift with ethical value, an authentic souvenir that actively contributes to the preservation of the city.

It’s not just a purchase.
It’s a concrete gesture.

Would you like to give a gift that leaves a lasting impression?

Discover our sustainable design souvenirs inspired by Venice.

For every venice souvenirs that we sell for over €40, we donate €3 to the association to purchase the materials and tools needed for the interventions.

A Carnival that leaves its mark (in the right way)

The Venice Carnival is magic, history and identity.

But it is also a responsibility towards a fragile and precious city.

The Maries parading in extraordinary dresses and the same Maries wearing volunteers’ waistcoats say the same thing: Venice is not only to be admired, but also to be preserved.

And we continue to do so, one piece at a time.