Carnival of Venice 2026, Olympus

SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2026
SCUOLA GRANDE DEI CARMINI
Sestiere Dorsoduro 2617,
Campo Santa Margherita, Venice

MANDATORY DRESS CODE: elegant and sumptuous historical costume.

BAL MASQUÉ
The Carnival of Venice 2026 is entitled Olympus at the origins of play and our historical balls also include many moments of musical play called cotillon.
The bal masqué has very ancient origins and in both the 18th and 19th centuries it took on an emblematic role, characterising the famous Carnival of Venice. Chronicles of the time recount festivities and balls where disguise and the mask became an essential attribute for access to the social and worldly life of the era.

At a bal masqué, costumes from any historical period are permitted, respecting the single rule that they must be sumptuous, lavish and elegant.

PROGRAMME:
2.00 pm – entrance to the Scuola Grande dei Carmini and welcome buffet
3.00 pm – guided tour by the Guardian Grande Dr Franco Campiutti
3.30 pm – first set of dances in the Tiepolo Chapter Hall
5.00 pm – tea and chocolate break
5.30 pm – second set of historical dances in the Hall of Honour
7.00 pm – end of the event

WELCOME BUFFET:
Traditional Venetian tramezzino
Bananitos chips
Mini mozzarella in carrozza
Charcoal bun with creamed codfish and Grana cheese flakes served in its own form

Plates of regional cheeses
Savoury pies with cheese fondue
Ariccia porchetta with handmade rosemary focaccia
Smoked cooked ham carved at the counter with grated horseradish
Meatballs with BBQ sauce
Lasagna with radicchio and sausage
Warm barley and spelt salad with vegetables
Grilled vegetables

Traditional Spritz – Campari, Aperol, Select and Cynar – regional white and red wines Valdobbiadene
Fruit juices
Flavoured water

Antica San Benedetto mineral water still and sparkling

DESSERT BUFFET:
Traditional tiramisu
Carnival fritters
Buranella dry pastries
Coffee, hot chocolate, tea and coffee

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Cloakroom on the ground floor, unattended, next to the grand staircase.

CANCELLATION POLICY: once the reservation is confirmed, no refunds are provided in case of cancellation by the client.

CARNET DE BAL
First set of dances: Tiepolo Chapter Hall – Piano Nobile
Second set of dances: Hall of Honour – Ground Floor
With the participation of various historical dance associations from the region

THE SCUOLA GRANDE DEI CARMINI
BRIEF HISTORICAL NOTES:
The Scuola Grande dei Carmini was founded on 1 March 1594 by the Confraternity sive scola under the name of the Glorious Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, led by Bernardin Soardi tellarol, a manufacturer and merchant of precious fabrics.
Ancient Venetian chronicles, however, recount the existence of a lay female Congregation or Confraternity known as the Pizzocchere dei Carmini, who met in the adjacent Church of Santa Maria dei Carmini and who, from 1286 onwards, began to build its main structures.

By decree dated 22 September 1597, the Council of Ten authorised the foundation of the Fraternity under the name of the Most Holy Habit of the Glorious Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, placing the Scuola under the authority of the Provveditori di Comun of the Most Serene Republic of Venice.
In 1668 Baldassarre Longhena was commissioned to design and build the two façades facing Campo Santa Margherita and Campo dei Carmini, a work the architect completed in two years. On 21 December 1739, with 37 votes in favour and 4 against, it was decided to entrust Giambattista Tiepolo with the complete decoration of the ceiling of the Chapter Hall.

By decree of the Council of Ten dated 27 April 1767, the Scuola of the Blessed Virgin of Carmel was elevated from a minor Scuola to a Scuola Grande and placed under the authority of the Magistracy of the Inquisitors and Revisors of the Scuole Grandi of Venice.
With the decree of 26 May 1807, the French government suppressed all lay religious schools and societies, but as early as 1825 the Chancellery of the Scuola was re-established and the Guardian Grande was once again elected.

The Emperor of Austria Franz Joseph, by decree dated 7 December 1853, authorised its restoration, approving its regulations and organisational structure and granting it the title of Archconfraternity.

WARNINGS:
Participation in an event held in a venue of such historical importance and artistic value requires a number of precautions. The Guardian Grande of the Scuola Grande dei Carmini, in agreement with the Venice Superintendency, allow the use of the halls on the condition that guests respect the premises, do not lean against frescoed or decorated walls and are aware that the floors themselves are an artistic component of the historic building. It is also specified that on the upper floor the use of any type of heating that could compromise or damage the magnificent and delicate pictorial work of Giambattista Tiepolo is prohibited. For this reason, the upper rooms can only benefit from the heating of the hall below, which will be regularly heated and will host the welcome buffet.

Guest entry is scheduled through the main entrance, but during the event only the side entrance of the ticket office may be used, in order to avoid unnecessary heat loss.

Please note that the building is equipped with only one toilet for both ladies and gentlemen, with a continuously active cleaning service.

Program and cast