- Jul 27
Venice day-tripper fee tops €5 million as mayor eyes €50 charge
The Italian city collected more than 5 million euros from 650,000 paying day visitors during the 2026 season, which ran from April 3 to July 26. Mayor Simone Venturini now proposes raising the fee to as much as 50 euros on peak days.
- Jul 26
Operation Butterfly: 3 arrested in Italy’s Veneto over child sex abuse images
Italian police conducted five searches across the Veneto region, arresting three men aged 24 to 52 for possession of large quantities of child sexual abuse material; two others are under investigation.
- Jul 22
EU terminates €2 million grant to Venice Biennale after Russia's return to the exhibition
The European Commission terminated a €2 million grant to the Venice Biennale after Russia was allowed to exhibit for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- Jul 11
EU cuts 2 million euros in funds to Venice Biennale over Russian pavilion dispute
The European Commission officially recommended halting a 2-million-euro grant after the Biennale allowed the Russian pavilion to open, drawing sharp backlash from Italian regional and party officials.
- Jul 6
George Clooney to receive Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at Venice Film Festival
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival will honor George Clooney with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in September 2026, recognizing his career as actor, director, and producer.
- Jul 4
Tourist climbs onto moving Venice vaporetto roof, filmed by friend, reported to police
An 18-year-old tourist from Reggio Emilia climbed onto the roof of a moving water bus in Venice's San Marco basin, a stunt filmed by a friend and shared widely on social media, before being intercepted by local police and reported for endangering navigation.
- Jun 22
Willem Dafoe confirmed as artistic director of Venice Biennale Teatro through 2028 after record edition
The Venice Biennale's board has renewed Willem Dafoe's mandate as artistic director of its Theatre sector for the 2027-2028 term, as the 2026 edition closes with 10,000 attendees and 90% capacity.
- Jun 20
Venice mayor proposes raising day-tripper entry tax to €50 on peak days to curb overtourism
Simone Venturini, the new mayor of Venice, wants to increase the charge for day visitors from the current €5-10 to as much as €50 on high-traffic dates, arguing it is the only effective tool to manage daily tourist numbers.
- Jun 18
Sejm marshal kills Polish president's judiciary bill after Venice Commission finds it threatens rule of law
Sejm Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty refused to advance a presidential judiciary draft on 17 June 2026, citing a Venice Commission opinion that called the bill a threat to judicial independence and unable to resolve Poland's rule-of-law impasse.
- Jun 1
Claudio Baglioni Postpones 2026 'GrandTour' to 2027 After Being Diagnosed with Acute Interstitial Pneumonia
Italian singer-songwriter Claudio Baglioni has been forced to postpone his highly anticipated 'GrandTour La vita è adesso' to 2027, requiring 90 days of rest after doctors diagnosed him with acute interstitial pneumonia.
- May 25
Center-right's Venturini wins Venice mayoral race in first round, dealing blow to left
Simone Venturini, the center-right candidate, won Venice's mayoral election outright with 53% of the vote, avoiding a runoff and extending the right's 11-year rule. His victory prompted a taunting tweet from Premier Giorgia Meloni to opposition leader Elly Schlein.
