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Festa della Salute Venice 2026: Date, Bridge and Traditions
The Festa della Salute in Venice on November 21, 2026: the votive bridge over the Grand Canal, the basilica, castradina and the access fee.
The Festa della Salute is one of Venice’s oldest religious festivals: every November 21, pilgrims cross a temporary bridge over the Grand Canal to light a candle in the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, November 21. Here is what happens, when the votive bridge usually opens, what to eat and why you don’t pay the access fee that day.
Last updated: October 21, 2026. We checked the information below on the official pages of the Basilica della Salute, VeneziaUnica, the City of Venice and the Venice access fee portal on that date.
Festa della Salute 2026 at a glance
| 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, November 21, 2026 |
| Where | Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Dorsoduro |
| Votive bridge | From Santa Maria del Giglio (San Marco) to the basilica; 2026 dates not yet announced |
| What people do | Cross the bridge, light a candle and visit the basilica |
| Venice access fee | Doesn’t apply: no fee days after July 27, 2026 |
What is the Festa della Salute?
The festival gives thanks to the Virgin Mary for the end of the plague of 1630–31. During the epidemic, the Venetian government vowed to build a church if the city was saved, and the Basilica della Salute was the result. According to the basilica, the pilgrimage has taken place every year for more than three centuries.
Salute means health in Italian. According to the basilica, pilgrims still light a candle inside as a sign of faith.
The votive bridge across the Grand Canal
For the festival, the city builds a temporary bridge on pontoons across the Grand Canal. It links the Santa Maria del Giglio area in San Marco with the basilica in Dorsoduro, so pilgrims can walk straight across, as VeneziaUnica explains.
The City of Venice hadn’t published the 2026 dates when we checked. As a guide, in 2024 its ordinance set the assembly for November 14 and the removal for November 25. In 2023, the bridge was blessed and opened on Saturday, November 18, at noon. While the bridge is up, boat traffic on that stretch of the Grand Canal is limited, and the vaporetto stop at Santa Maria del Giglio can be suspended.
What happens on November 21
On the day itself, Masses run throughout the day inside the basilica. In 2023, for example, they ran from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, with the Patriarch’s solemn Mass at 10:00 am, according to VeneziaUnica. Stalls around the basilica sell candles and sweets, and in 2023 a small market ran from November 19 to 21.
The basilica hadn’t published its 2026 hours when we checked. In 2025, the Italpress news agency reported it open from 5:45 am to 10:30 pm on November 21, while its usual hours are 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, so check closer to the date.
Castradina, the dish of the day
The traditional dish of the Salute is castradina, a soup of salted and smoked mutton cooked slowly with cabbage. By tradition, it recalls the salted mutton that reached Venice from Dalmatia. Some trattorias serve it around November 21, but menus change, so ask before you go.
Do you pay the Venice access fee for the Festa della Salute?
No. According to the official access fee portal, the fee hasn’t applied since July 27, 2026, and it returns in 2027, from March 26 to August 15. So day-trippers don’t need to pay to visit Venice on November 21, 2026. Read our guide to the Venice access fee for the 2027 calendar. If you stay overnight, however, the city’s tourist tax still applies, as our Venice tourist tax guide explains.
Plan your visit
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With no access fee in November 2026, the festival is a good reason to stay a night or two. Compare hotels in Venice on Expedia, and add a guided walk such as this small-group walking tour of Venice to see more of the city. For the rest of the season, read our guide to Christmas in Venice, our 3 days in Venice itinerary and our list of events in Italy in November.
Sources and verification
On October 21, 2026, we checked the Basilica della Salute’s pages on its history and the annual pilgrimage, VeneziaUnica’s event page on the festival, the City of Venice’s 2024 ordinance on the votive bridge and the Venice access fee portal. The castradina tradition comes from local food writers, not an official source.
Back in Venice at the end of December? Read our guide to New Year’s Eve in Venice.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Festa della Salute in Venice in 2026?
The Festa della Salute is always on November 21. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, November 21.
When does the votive bridge across the Grand Canal open for the Festa della Salute?
The City of Venice hadn’t announced the 2026 dates when we checked. In 2024, the bridge was assembled on November 14 and removed on November 25.
Is the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute open on November 21?
Yes, the basilica is open for the festival, with Masses through the day. The 2026 hours hadn’t been published when we checked, so confirm them closer to the date.
What is castradina?
Castradina is a soup of salted and smoked mutton with cabbage, the traditional dish of the Festa della Salute. By tradition, it recalls the salted mutton that reached Venice from Dalmatia.
Do I need to pay the Venice access fee to attend the Festa della Salute?
No. The access fee hasn’t applied since July 27, 2026, and it returns in 2027, from March 26 to August 15.
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