The Venice Glass Week 2026: Murano events and visitor guide
More than 200 events across Venice, Mestre and Murano, from contemporary glass art to furnaces, studios and the festival’s flagship installation.
For travellers looking for things to do in Venice in September, The Venice Glass Week 2026 is a rare chance to experience Murano glass beyond shop windows: nine days of exhibitions, workshops and glassmaking events spread across Venice, Mestre and Murano.
The tenth edition: 12–20 September 2026
Founded in 2017 to celebrate, support and promote glassmaking, The Venice Glass Week reaches its tenth edition in 2026. Events take place across Venice, Mestre and Murano, connecting historic craft with contemporary art, design and new approaches to glass.
More than 200 Venice glass events
The 2026 edition announces more than 200 events, the festival’s richest programme to date, including exhibitions, installations, talks, guided visits, workshops, demonstrations and special projects. You do not need to cover everything: the best approach is to choose a few events that fit your Venice itinerary.
Murano glassmaking, past and present
Murano remains the symbolic heart of the festival. Its furnaces, studios and cultural spaces show why Murano glass is more than a souvenir: centuries of specialist knowledge continue to meet international design, glass art and experimentation.
The Venice Glass Week HUB and HUB Under35
A major change for the tenth edition is the new home of The Venice Glass Week HUB by Generali at Palazzo Morosini in Campo Santo Stefano. HUB Under35 returns to Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa – Galleria di Piazza San Marco, presenting 52 works by 39 international artists; admission is free and no reservation is required.
After Glass Week: Murano Illumina il Mondo continues to 1 November
The Venice Glass Week ends on 20 September, but its flagship event Murano Illumina il Mondo continues until 1 November 2026 beneath the Procuratie Vecchie in St Mark’s Square, with twelve light installations created by international artists and designers working with Murano glassmakers. The City of Venice has also published free guided visits in October on 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29 October, generally from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Languages vary by date and some languages require advance booking. The meeting point is under the Procuratie Vecchie arcade on the Caffè Lavena side; re-check the city page for current availability and booking details.
Three Glass Week events I would prioritise
Among the events confirmed at the time of this update, these three give you a strong mix of landmark installation, emerging talent and a genuine Murano stop. The official programme may still be updated.
01
Murano Illumina il Mondo
Start with the festival’s headline project: twelve light installations in one of Venice’s most recognisable settings. It is an easy way to see Murano glass art in dialogue with architecture rather than only in a museum or shop.
Area: St Mark’s Square – Procuratie Vecchie
02
The Venice Glass Week HUB Under35
A useful stop for seeing where contemporary glass is heading. The exhibition brings together 39 international artists and 52 works in central Venice, so it fits naturally into a day around St Mark’s Square.
Area: San Marco – Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa
Free admission · no reservation required
03
L’Anima dell’Onda, 2026
At Wave Murano Glass, five monumental totems combine glass canes, metal, light and lagoon-inspired reflections. It is a good choice if you want your Glass Week itinerary to include an actual Murano furnace setting rather than only central Venice venues.
Area: Murano – Wave Murano Glass furnace
Free admission · no reservation required
How to plan your visit
Events are spread across Venice, Mestre and Murano. Check the daily programme before setting out, group activities by area and confirm whether reservations are needed. If Murano is one of your priorities, give the island at least half a day rather than squeezing it into a quick detour.
Planning a day in Murano? Read our complete Murano guide. →Marghera Venice Apartments tip
Check the programme the evening before and group events by area. You will spend less time moving between Venice and Murano and more time enjoying exhibitions, demonstrations and studios.
Official information
The online programme may still receive updates. Times, reservations, admission rules and individual event conditions can change, so always check the official website before visiting.
The Venice Glass Week – official website ↗A convenient base for Venice
Visiting Venice for this event?
Stay in Marghera with free private parking and convenient day-and-night connections to Venice.