Vogalonga (Vogalonga Regatta) is a spectacular non-competitive rowing event held each May or June in Venice, Italy, celebrating the city’s maritime heritage and opposing the damage caused by motorized boats. Thousands of participants from around the world take to the lagoon in traditional Venetian boats, kayaks, canoes, and dragon boats, rowing a 30-kilometer route from St. Mark’s Basin through the city’s canals and around the islands. The event is marked by silence, solidarity, and the rhythmic sound of oars gliding through water, offering a peaceful yet powerful tribute to Venice’s rowing traditions. Blending sport, culture, and environmental respect, the Vogalonga Regatta is one of the city’s most iconic and inspiring modern festivals.
DATES & TIMES
• Event date (2026): Sunday, May 24, 2026. Vogalonga (official) · Venezia Unica event listing.
• The official start procedure, route notice, and any navigation ordinances are published separately by the organizer; confirm the cannon/start time and day-of timetable on the official rules/news pages. Rules · Official news.
LOCATION
• Venice, Italy. Open in Google Maps.
• Traditional start area: St. Mark’s Basin (Bacino San Marco), Venice; the official rules describe an approximately 30-kilometer route through the lagoon, Murano’s Grand Canal, and Cannaregio, with the finish near Punta della Salute / Punta della Dogana. Start area on Google Maps · Finish area on Google Maps · Official rules.
• Organizer / registration office: San Marco 3998, 30124 Venice, Italy. Open in Google Maps · Official contacts.
TICKETS & ENTRY
• Participants register online only via the official registration platform. The FAQ lists registrations opening on Wednesday, April 16 and closing on Friday, May 30; confirm any updates or early-closure conditions on the organizer’s pages. FAQ · Official registration.
• The event is non-competitive and open to rowing boats; the rules state that participants must be at least 16, or under 16 only if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Official rules.
GOOD TO KNOW
• Kit collection guidance (official FAQ): the registration office is at San Marco 3998; Monday–Saturday pickup hours are listed as 9:30 AM–12:30 PM, with extended hours on the Friday and Saturday before the event to 6:00 PM. FAQ.
• If you are delayed collecting your kit, the FAQ states that Sunday-morning collection is available from the starting pontoon near Punta della Salute after 8:15 AM; the organizer asks participants to notify the committee in advance. FAQ.
• Venice municipal access rules can change on major-event days; the City of Venice notes access-fee exemptions for Vogalonga participants on the official access-fee information page. City of Venice access-fee information.