Ian Rankin said last year’s Venice Noir was ‘the most beautiful book festival in the world’. We aim to top that in 2026 with a greater range of international and Italian authors, more historic venues, and an exciting and original array of panels. Let me give you a few tips on what we have to offer and how you can make the most of it. And remember… all our public events are free. Here’s what’s in store from November 12 to 15.
Programme
Lucy Worsley on Agatha Christie. Ian Rankin leading a Scottish delegation on the classic horror-story, Jekyll and Hyde, nominally set in London but thoroughly Caledonian in atmosphere, a trio of classicists on ancient Noir, a bunch of famous English authors from the great Harrogate Theakston’s Crime Festival… that’s just a taste of what’s coming in English. And a full range of Italian authors too. Then, on the final Sunday, a reception where we will announce this year’s winner of the Venice Noir award. Browse the line-up here.
Booking
Yes, all our main events are free. But space is limited and to guarantee you can get in we advise you reserve a space here on our booking site. If you later find you can’t make one event or you’ve changed your mind, please cancel your reservation. That way you will open the place for someone else.
Please make your free reservations through our Eventbrite site here
Venues
We have four unique historic locations for our events this year.
The Ateneo Veneto is one of the oldest cultural institutes in the world, dating back to 1812 when it was founded by Napoleon. Housed in a former religious building, its walls are decorated by the works of Tintoretto, Veronese and Palma il Giovane among others. Our Thursday and Friday panels will take place here.
La Fenice, the world famous opera house, will host us for the first part of Saturday in its beautiful Apollinee rooms.
On Saturday afternoon we will move to another historic location, Sant’Apollonia, one of the oldest religious institutions in the city, just behind the Bridge of Sighs by the Doge’s Palace.
Finally, on Sunday you will find us in Casanova’s old casino, the Ridotto, in what is now the Hotel Monaco. Here the last sessions in Italian are followed by the closing reception where we will announce the winner of this year’s Venice Noir award.
Accommodation
Festivalgoers can take advantage of special rates at our four and five star partner hotels. Just choose your hotel and send an email specifying “VENICE NOIR” in the subject line to get a special discount on the normal rate.
Our partner hotels are:
Email mailbox@hotelmonaco.it
Email info@capisanihotel.it
Email reservations@palazzoexperimental.com
Email cadidio.booking@vretreats.com
Email info.venice@jwmarriotthotels.com
Email info@hotelsaturnia.it
More to come
We’ve a few more tricks up our sleeve for this year so do stay tuned for some last-minute surprises. And if you are on our newsletter list please make sure our mailings are coming through, not ending up in your spam folder. This does happen from time to time, usually because someone has missed the subscription confirmation email.
How you can help us
We’re a young non-profit organisation, run by volunteers, and learning all the time. If you like our work please spread the word. And if, as we hope, you find your way to Venice this November it would be much appreciated if you bought a book or two, for the festival’s sake and that of the authors who have come to support us in Venice.
Hope to see you soon!
David Hewson
International Director
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