Things to Do in Venice: New Events & Hot Spots (Updated 2026)

Fall and winter in Veneto serve up flavors hidden in small towns across its four provinces: Verona’s braised meat with pepper-bread sauce, the red radicchio around Venice, Treviso’s potato and cheese pancake, plus Padua’s salt cod, herring, and Polverara chicken. Pick a few neighboring towns for a day trip and sit down to a hearty Veneto winter feast. 📍 Location: Veneto (the four provinces of Verona–Venice–Treviso–Padua) 🕘 Opening hours: Nov–Dec 2026. Dates vary by town. --Province of Verona-- 🍖 Braised meat and Pearà festival · Isola della Scala ⏰ Dates: Nov 6–22, 2026 (23rd edition) ✨ Highlights: • Verona’s signature braised meat with pepper-bread sauce, pearà. Order it with risotto all'Isolana from Italy’s rice capital. • The venue is in fair pavilions, with food stalls open day and night. 🫒 Olive oil and wine festival · Mezzane di Sotto ⏰ Dates: late Nov 2026 (approx. Nov 20–29, mainly on weekends) ✨ Highlights: • Fresh new oil and new wine from the valley. Mills and wineries open their doors. • Toasted bread with new oil is the local way, paired with regional dishes and live music. 🍬 Almond torrone festival · Cologna Veneta ⏰ Dates: Nov 29–Dec 8, 2026 (main events Dec 6–8) ✨ Highlights: • Honey-and-almond torrone made with 19th‑century techniques. • Market stalls and free tastings of hot torrone. Easy to see it all in a day. 🎄 Verona Christmas market · Verona ⏰ Dates: Nov 21–Dec 28, 2026 ✨ Highlights: • Stalls fill Piazza Bra, sit under the Colosseo, and stretch all the way to Castelvecchio Bridge. • There’s an ice rink and Santa’s house, and it’s most photogenic after dark. --Province of Venice-- 🥬 Red radicchio festival · Rio San Martino di Scorzè ⏰ Dates: Nov 6–22, 2026 (44th edition) 📍 Location: Via Onaro, 62-74, Rio San Martino di Scorzè (VE), Italy ✨ Highlights: • The flagship celebration of Treviso red radicchio IGP over three consecutive weekends. • Product displays, food stalls, and seated dining—radicchio from tip to tail. --Province of Treviso-- 🧀 Potato and cheese pancake festival · Lorenzaga ⏰ Dates: Weekends from Nov 7–29, 2026 ✨ Highlights: • Frico, a potato-and-cheese pancake with flavors from the Friuli border. • Weekend stalls, perfect with a glass of local wine. --Province of Padua-- 🐟 Salt cod festival · Borgoricco ⏰ Dates: Nov 6–15, 2026 (31st edition) ✨ Highlights: • Salt cod every which way: stewed, in a creamy sauce, and fried. • Don’t miss the cod risotto, paired with local wines. 🐔 Polverara chicken fair · Polverara ⏰ Dates: Late Nov–Dec 8, 2026 (mainly on weekends) ✨ Highlights: • A heritage breed listed in the Slow Food Ark of Taste. Chicken broth and braised chicken are the signatures. • On the east side alongside the herring festival, easy to combine into a day trip. 🐟 Herring festival · Codiverno di Vigonza ⏰ Dates: Nov 28–Dec 8, 2026 ✨ Highlights: • The name has a local ring—herring steals the show these days. • Along with the Polverara chicken fair on Padua’s east side, easy to do both in one day. 💡 Travel tips: Kitchens and stalls at small-town festivals are not open all day, every day. Book popular dinner slots in advance. Weekends have the most events but tighter parking. Dates, menus, and programs may change. Check each Pro Loco or the organizer’s announcements before you go. Come taste your way through Veneto!

The top attractions to visit in Venice are the Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Basilica. The Doge's Palace was once the residence of the Doge and home to the city courts, capturing both the most glorious and the darkest chapters of Venice’s past. Inside, you’ll find monumental works by Tintoretto and Veronese, as well as historical relics such as a wooden letter slot once used to denounce treason and traces of the former secret police. Next up is Saint Mark's Basilica, praised by Napoleon as "the most magnificent drawing room in Europe." Here you can experience Venice’s cultural diversity—Eastern architecture blends with Western design to create unique onion-shaped domes, and the basilica’s exquisite interior murals are truly breathtaking. Visitors can delve into Venice’s history, art, and architecture while soaking up the city’s romantic and mysterious charm. This trip is perfect for travelers interested in cultural heritage and historical discovery, revealing Venice’s standout highlights and creating unforgettable memories.

Fondazione Prada in Milan is an intimate art space transformed from a century-old factory. It seamlessly blends contemporary architecture with a vintage industrial vibe, full of striking design elements, making it a dream spot for architectural photography lovers. 🏛 Century-old factory and architectural aesthetics The complex showcases a distinctive style: blue skies, white walls, green trees, and pale green chairs in the sunlight create a highly curated scene. On sunny days, the light and shadow are especially beautiful—every snap looks like a standout shot. ☕ Retro café Bar Luce Bar Luce is a major highlight, designed by the director of The Grand Budapest Hotel. Its retro decor and unique atmosphere make you feel like you’ve stepped onto a movie set. It’s an ideal place to relax and take photos. 🚗 Transportation: M3 subway line, Lodi T.I.B.B. station ⏰ Business hours: 10:00 AM–7:00 PM. Closed on Tuesday. 💡 Travel tip: Go on a sunny day for the best light and shadow. It’s closed on Tuesday, so plan your itinerary in advance. Come to Fondazione Prada and experience the perfect fusion of architecture and art!

The Caudry Lace Museum is situated in Caudry, a town renowned for its longstanding lace-making tradition. This museum provides an in-depth look at the history and cultural importance of lace production in the Caudrésis region. One of the main highlights is the display of historic Leavers machines, which are unique to Caudry and play a crucial role in the lace-making process. Visitors have the opportunity to watch live demonstrations of these machines, gaining insight into the intricate techniques used to produce wide-width lace, a specialty of the area. The museums exhibitions detail the craftsmanship and artistry involved in lace-making, from the selection of threads to the final product. Guests can explore the evolution of lace designs and understand how this delicate craft has influenced fashion and local culture over the years. A visit to the Caudry Lace Museum offers a chance to appreciate the skill and dedication behind each piece of lace, making it an enriching experience for those interested in traditional crafts and textile history. Visitors are encouraged to discover this unique aspect of Caudrys heritage and witness the timeless beauty of lace-making up close.

Teatro La Fenice, located in the heart of Venice, is one of Italys most renowned opera houses, celebrated for its exceptional acoustics and impressive architecture. The current programme features a variety of opera productions, concerts, and selected ballet performances, with internationally acclaimed soloists, orchestras, and conductors taking the stage. La Fenice is notable for its rich history, having been rebuilt multiple times after devastating fires, which is reflected in its name, meaning "The Phoenix." Visitors can experience both the historic grandeur of the venue and its modern stage technology, making each performance unique. Attending an event at La Fenice offers a chance to enjoy world-class music and dance in a setting that blends cultural heritage with contemporary excellence. For those interested in exploring more, Venice also offers other notable venues such as Teatro Malibran. Whether you are an opera enthusiast or a first-time visitor, a performance at Teatro La Fenice promises an unforgettable cultural experience in one of Europes most iconic theatres.