Chioggia Events 2026 — Palio della Marciliana, Sagra del Pesce & Notte Bianca
The Chioggia events calendar 2026 is shaped by local identity: the historic town festival Palio della Marciliana with its boat contest, the great fish festival Sagra del Pesce on the Corso del Popolo, the Baruffe in Calle theatre series in the old town and several Notte Bianca summer nights in Sottomarina. Add patronal feasts and sports events.
Palio della Marciliana
| Date 2026 | 3rd weekend of June (19–21.06.2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | Old town, Corso del Popolo |
| Character | Historical re-enactment of the War of Chioggia (1378–1382) with crossbow palio, medieval parade, taverns and craft encampments |
| Admission | free |
The Palio della Marciliana is Chioggia’s most important traditional festival. For three days the Corso del Popolo turns into the “Clugia” of the 14th century, when Chioggia was Europe’s salt capital and became the theatre of the war between Venice and Genoa. The programme: blessing of the town quarters and the captain’s oath on Friday; taverns, old crafts and military camps on Saturday; and on Sunday the decisive crossbow palio (“Tiro alla Balestra”) with the Genoese raid and the burning of the tower. Free entry.
Sagra del Pesce — fish festival
| Date 2026 | 10–19 July 2026 (87th edition), evenings from 6:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Location | Corso del Popolo, Chioggia old town |
| Character | Great popular fish feast with food stalls, concerts, fireworks |
The Sagra del Pesce is Chioggia’s biggest culinary event and one of the best-known fish festivals on the upper Adriatic — in its 87th edition in 2026. Over ten evenings, local associations set up fish stalls along the Corso del Popolo: sarde in saor, fritto misto with polenta, grilled sardines, vongole, calamari, risotto al nero di seppia. Free entry, food for a small contribution on site. Concerts and fireworks round off the programme.
Baruffe in Calle
A summer theatre festival in the old town, in August. The name nods to Carlo Goldoni’s comedy “Le baruffe chiozzotte” (The Chioggia Scuffles), set in the town. Performances in the narrow calle and on the squares — mostly in Italian, but thanks to the playful staging enjoyable even without the language. The 2026 date is published on visitchioggia.com in July.
Notte Bianca Sottomarina
Once or twice each summer — usually mid-July and mid-August — the Lungomare Adriatico in Sottomarina becomes one long promenade show. Shops and bars stay open until 2 am, with live bands, street artists, fashion shows and fireworks. One of the best events of Sottomarina’s summer nights.
Festa di Sant’Felice e Fortunato
Feast of the town patrons Felice and Fortunato: the main feast day is 11 June; the solemn procession sets off on the evening of 10 June from the Piazzetta Vigo to the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, and the supporting programme with market stalls runs until 14 June 2026. High mass in the cathedral, evening fireworks. More a local tradition than a tourist event, but atmospherically very striking.