And if on Saturday night the scenario was that of St. Mark's Square, yesterday the celebrations for the opening of the Venice Carnival 2026, Olympus – The Origins of the Game, they moved to the Grand Canal and Rialto for the Great Venetian celebration. With a water parade and the explosion of the "Pantegana". And with hundreds of rowers in masks, to create a collective spectacle where tradition and imagination merged into a shared narrative. The traditional boats departed from Punta della Dogana and reached the Rialto Bridge, where the papier-mâché "Pantegana" opened in a display of biodegradable confetti, respecting the environment as an Olympic value and a duty to the city.
The water is a playing field and the rowers are the athletes of a popular festival
The ceremony, organized in collaboration with the Coordination of Venetian Rowing Associations, was punctuated by traditional music. The Olympic theme took shape through costumes, symbols and installations capable of evoking a modern mythology of sport.A Venice kissed by the sun and Carnival that begins with a wonderful party on the water - underlined the artistic director of the event, Massimo Checchetto. - We imagined the Venice Carnival as the contemporary OlympusIn today's ceremony, water is the playing field and the rowers are the athletes of a popular festival that unites tradition and future.".
Under a shower of biodegradable confetti, the morning ended in Erbaria with the awards for the most original boats. From the Murano rowers dressed as Olympic athletes to the "magoghe" (magicians) with the "paron de casa" (the bell tower of San Marco) of the Voga Veneta Mestre. From the group of children dressed as Knights Templar representing the "schie" and "maciarele" categories at the Regata Storica. To the flamingos of the Murano Rowing Group, to the award ceremony for the group from Istria. A symbolic podium that celebrated Creativity, inclusion and team spirit are also central values in the Olympic worldIn line with this edition of the Carnival which looks to the Milan-Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, celebrating the values of sport – commitment, respect, inclusion and teamwork – through the theme Olympus – The Origins of the Game, promoted by the Municipality of Venice in collaboration with Vela spa.
(photo credits: Municipality of Venice)
