On Wednesday 6 January 2027, the Regata delle Befane is expected on the Grand Canal, with no programme published yet. Mascarete boats leave from the Banca d’Italia and finish at the Rialto. In 2026 the start was at 11 am. No ticketing has been identified for the race.
Checked on against the official sources cited (organiser Bucintoro, Carnival site, dated press).
On 6 January, Venice races boats down the Grand Canal, their crews dressed as Befane, with no ticketing identified. This Epiphany race has existed since the late 1970s. For 2027, the date comes from tradition, not from an announcement.
6 January 2027: a fixed date, no programme yet
Wednesday 6 January 2027: what is confirmed
The race is held every 6 January, the Epiphany public holiday in Italy. 6 January 2027 falls on a Wednesday, which any calendar will confirm: the organiser’s notice for 2026 gave Tuesday 6 January. The organiser, the Reale Società Canottieri Bucintoro 1882, usually publishes its notice at the end of the previous year. For 2027, nothing had been published at the date of consultation.
- Traditional date: every 6 January, Epiphany.
- Organiser: the Bucintoro club, founded in 1882.
- Finish under the Rialto Bridge, where the crowd gathers.
If you want the same setting, the Grand Canal and the Rialto, but away from the race and by boat, a 60-minute private tour leaves from St Mark’s Square and passes under the bridge, according to the product description. The Viator check of 13 November 2026 shows places available that day; it says nothing about the time of the race.
The link above is a booking offered by a partner. The 6 January race is not included and is not run by Viator.
A mascarete race, not gondolas
The crews do not row gondolas. The race boats are mascarete, light Venetian rowing boats. Several press titles and an organiser’s page dated 2025 use the word « gondola ». Specialist sources speak of mascarete or boats: that is the case of italian-traditions.com (French edition) and the Unfold Venice blog. Both were consulted on 13 November 2026.
Each boat carries a Befana at the helm, rowers and a costume: a long skirt, a coloured shawl, a bonnet, a false nose and a broom. Accounts of 2023 and 2026 describe five mascarete per edition. The exact number of crews entered is not published in the sources consulted, and it can change from one year to the next.
The organising club is the Reale Società Canottieri Bucintoro 1882, which says on its « chi siamo » page that it was founded on 1 October 1882. The race itself is younger: it began in the late 1970s as a game among club members, before becoming a popular tradition. The sources give 1978 or 1979 depending on the text, hence the phrase « late 1970s » in this article.
The Regata delle Befane is a popular race with no financial stakes. Don’t confuse it with the Regata Storica, another race the club organises on a different calendar.
Recent editions: numbers, cancellations, start times
The edition number helps you check that an announcement is recent: the 2025 series (44th) and 2026 (45th) are consistent. The table below lists the editions found in the sources, with their date and the useful note.
| Year | Edition | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 38th | Edition found in a VeneziaToday PDF |
| 2018 | 40th | Organiser’s announcement; start time not recorded |
| 2020 | 42nd | Start at 10:30 am according to the club’s statement of 21 December 2019 |
| 2023 | 43rd | Return after the Covid pause; the numbering (42nd in 2020, 43rd in 2023) shows that no race took place in between |
| 2024 | None | No race according to the numbering; cancelled due to bad weather, source to be cross-checked |
| 2025 | 44th | Monday 6 January 2025, announced on 20 December 2024 |
| 2026 | 45th (XLV) | Tuesday 6 January, start at 11 am according to the venezianews listing; race held in snow and wind |
| 2027 | 46th (inferred) | Wednesday 6 January, programme not published at the date of consultation |
Source: organiser’s announcement of 31 December 2025, Italpress for 2026, venezianews listing for the 2026 edition for the start time, In Venice Today for 2024 (to be cross-checked), checked on 13 November 2026. The number 46 for 2027 is inferred from the series, not announced.
The series is consistent: the 44th edition is recorded in 2025 and the 45th in 2026. A single source (In Venice Today) says the race was cancelled in 2024 because of bad weather; this point still needs cross-checking.
Route, 2026 timings and where to stand
The Grand Canal, from the Banca d’Italia to the Rialto
The start is on the Grand Canal, in front of the Banca d’Italia palace. The boats head up towards the Rialto, round a buoy and come back down: the finish is under the arch of the bridge. Sources from 2023 to 2026 agree on this starting point. Older listings mention other points, such as San Tomà or Palazzo Balbi, which are best not repeated.
For 2026, the venezianews event page gives a start at 11 am. That describes the 2026 day and does not commit 2027.
Where to stand on the morning of 6 January
- The Rialto Bridge: a direct view of the finish, but this is where the crowd gathers. The tourist advice recorded recommends arriving before 10 am to keep a spot.
- The Rialto bank, San Polo side: the quays known as Riva del Vin are presented as calmer and more local. The name comes from tourist sites, not from anything official about the race.
- The Rialto bank, San Marco side: the quays known as Riva del Ferro are a tourist name for the quay, not an official race spot.
- The Banca d’Italia quay: fewer people at the start according to accounts, but you see less of the finish.
Get there early enough to be settled before the 2026 procession, around 10 am, then choose your bank. Check the club’s announcement the day before, and if it is missing, go by the 2026 running order and allow a margin.
Getting there and paying: vaporetto, ticket and tickets
The race is a public event. No ticketing has been identified in the sources consulted, nor in the club’s announcements or the press. So there is nothing to book for the race itself. Getting there does cost money, though, and fares change with how long the ticket is valid.
The simplest option is the vaporetto: the Rialto stop is on the Grand Canal, close to the finish. On foot from St Mark’s Square, the bridge is about ten minutes away according to the tourist guides consulted. Recorded fares are in the table below.
| Item | Recorded value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ACTV 75-minute ticket | €9.50 | To be checked on the AVM site |
| 2-day pass | €35 | Two information sites agree |
| 3-day pass | €45 | Two information sites agree |
| ACTV 24-hour ticket | Not published | The sites consulted give €21 or €25: conflict, no price retained |
| Access fee, 6 January 2027 | No day | 2027 calendar announced: 26 March to 15 August |
| Venice Carnival 2027 | 23 January to 9 February | Official Carnival site |
Source: In Venice Today, ACTV fares, official Carnival site, checked on 13 November 2026. The AVM fare page was not accessible when we checked: confirm the price on the AVM site or in the app before you go.
The 75-minute ticket is enough for a one-way trip to the Rialto, but it does not cover a day of wandering. Three 75-minute tickets cost €28.50, less than the €35 2-day pass. The pass only pays off from four trips (35 / 9.50 = 3.7). This calculation only holds if the recorded prices still apply on the day of your visit.
Access fee: no January days in 2027
The 2027 calendar for the access fee (contributo di accesso), announced by La Voce di Venezia, has 72 days, from 26 March 2027, Good Friday, to 15 August. No January or February day is on it. So 6 January 2027 is not a fee day according to this calendar. For 2026, the fee applied on 60 days, from 3 April to 26 July.
Two cautions. First, this calendar is a press announcement: the implementing acts and the opening of the booking portal are not yet published, and the City of Venice remains the source to check. Second, the fee is not a transport fare: it is separate from the vaporetto ticket. For details, read our guide to the 2027 access fee.
Weather, cold and practical tips
6 January is a winter day, and the race takes place outdoors, at the water’s edge. In 2026 it was held in snow and wind, finishing under the Rialto, according to the Italpress agency. In 2024, according to one source still to be cross-checked, the edition was cancelled because of bad weather. There is no guarantee, so check the organiser’s announcement and the weather forecast the day before.
- Dress for cold and damp: take a windproof jacket and waterproof shoes, as the sources consulted advise.
- Bring something to warm up after the finish. Accounts mention galani, hot chocolate and mulled wine after the race. These prices were not checked, so allow a margin.
- Keep an eye on the tide. The MOSE system is raised during high water. The number of activations in 2026 varies between the summaries consulted, so no figure is kept here.
Budget: what is free and what is not
The race itself has no identified ticketing. The rest of the day can be costed from a few simple items.
- The race: no ticketing identified.
- Transport: €9.50 for the 75-minute ticket, €35 for the 2-day pass, €45 for the 3-day pass, according to the recorded fares to check on AVM.
- Accommodation: prices fall in winter, outside Carnival. No verified figure is kept here: compare dates yourself.
- Food and hot drinks: not costed in the sources. Allow for the price of a coffee or a mulled wine by the water, which was not recorded.
- A private boat tour: an optional extra outside the race, at €235 per adult for 6 January 2027 according to the Viator check of 13 November 2026, on a basis of two adults at least.
Depending on your situation: family, couple, photographer, tight budget
The race looks the same to everyone, but comfort changes with your situation. Here are the settings that matter.
- Families: the Rialto Bridge gives a direct view of the finish, but it is where the crowd gathers. With children, the tips recorded recommend arriving before 10 am to find a spot.
- Couples: the San Polo bank is presented as calmer. Between the Rialto and San Marco, the walk takes about ten minutes.
- For photos: the finish under the Rialto is the busiest spot. The start has fewer people according to accounts, but the sources do not say what the morning light is like: arrive early to scout your spot before the crowd.
- Tight budget: no ticketing identified for the race. A one-way trip costs the 75-minute ticket, and walking from San Marco is a free option.
- First time: read the organiser’s announcement, have a backup plan in case the race is cancelled, and don’t book your day around a 2027 start time that does not exist yet.
Before and after the race: Befana, Carnival, Venice in winter
The race takes up only part of the day. It fits into a busy period, as long as you don’t mix up the dates. The Befana is a figure of Epiphany in Italy, an old woman who brings gifts to children on the night of 5 to 6 January. For Italy’s national holiday and the other towns that celebrate it, read our Befana 2027 guide to Italy. This article stays focused on the Venetian race.
The Carnival of Venice 2027 starts seventeen days later, from 23 January to 9 February according to the official site. The two events do not overlap, so the carnival crowd does not reach the Rialto on 6 January. To plan the rest of your stay, our 2027 Carnival programme sets out the dates and the schedule.
What other guides don’t tell you
Five points taken from the organiser’s sources and the dated press, which clarify or correct the usual answers.
- The boats are mascarete, not gondolas. Press titles and a club page dated 2025 use « gondola ». italian-traditions.com talks about mascarete (consulted 13 November 2026).
- The 2026 edition was the 45th (XLV), and 2024 was reportedly cancelled (source to be cross-checked). The number 46 for 2027 is inferred, not announced. The organiser’s announcement gives the 2026 number (consulted 13 November 2026).
- The start time has varied. The 2019 statement gives 10:30 am; the venezianews listing for the 2026 edition gives 11 am. The venezianews listing details the 2026 edition (consulted 13 November 2026).
- The access fee does not apply on 6 January 2027 according to the announced calendar: 72 days, from 26 March to 15 August. La Voce di Venezia (consulted 13 November 2026).
- The organiser is the club. The Reale Società Canottieri Bucintoro 1882 runs the race, according to its « chi siamo » page (consulted 13 November 2026).
Frequently asked questions
When is the Regata delle Befane?
The race is held every 6 January, Epiphany. In 2027 that date falls on a Wednesday. The 2027 programme was not published at the consultation date of 13 November 2026: no start time or number of crews had been announced. The organiser, the Reale Società Canottieri Bucintoro 1882, usually publishes its notice at the end of the year before. Check its website before you plan your day.
Where is the Befane boat race held in Venice?
On the Grand Canal, between the Banca d’Italia palace and the Rialto Bridge. The boats go up the canal, round a buoy and come back down towards the arch of the bridge, where the race finishes. The crowd spreads over the bridge and the nearby banks. The exact turning point varies between sources, so it is not fixed in this article.
How much does the race cost?
No ticketing has been identified for the race, which is watched from the banks and bridges. Getting there does cost money, though. The 75-minute ACTV ticket is recorded at €9.50 by information sites, to be checked on the AVM site. The access fee does not apply on 6 January 2027 according to the announced calendar, which starts on 26 March.
Why Befane on boats?
The race is part of the Epiphany celebrations, when the Befana, a kindly figure, brings gifts to children. It started in the late 1970s as a game among members of the Bucintoro club before becoming a popular tradition. The organiser is a rowing club, the Reale Società Canottieri Bucintoro 1882, so the race is rowed on the Grand Canal, in mascarete, light boats.
How do you watch the race?
Arrive before 10 am at the Rialto Bridge or a nearby bank, as the area fills quickly according to the tips recorded. The easiest option is the vaporetto, with a Rialto stop on the Grand Canal, or a walk from St Mark’s Square, about ten minutes. Dress warm and waterproof, and check the weather the day before.
How many crews and boats?
Accounts of 2023 and 2026 describe five mascarete per edition. Each boat carries a Befana at the helm and rowers. The exact number of crews entered is not published in the sources consulted, and it can vary from year to year. No rower’s or jury member’s name is kept here, as there is no official source.
Which edition is in 2027?
If the series continues, the 2027 edition would be the 46th. That number is inferred from the 45th edition, held on 6 January 2026 (XLV), as announced by the Bucintoro. The numbering shows that no race took place between the 42nd (2020) and the 43rd (2023), nor between the 43rd and the 44th (2025). The number will only be confirmed by the official announcement.
Is there a race in 2027?
The tradition repeats every 6 January, and 6 January 2027 falls on a Wednesday. No 2027 announcement had been published at the consultation date of 13 November 2026. The announcement usually comes towards the end of the year, before the holiday. A cancellation for bad weather in 2024 is reported by a source still to be cross-checked, so keep an eye on the organiser’s announcement and the weather.
Sources
- Bucintoro, announcement of the 2026 edition (XLV): date, number, announced programme, consulted 13 November 2026.
- Bucintoro, announcement of the 2025 edition (44th): number and date of the edition, consulted 13 November 2026.
- Bucintoro, « chi siamo » page: club founded on 1 October 1882, consulted 13 November 2026.
- Venezianews, listing for the 2026 edition: running order and reference times, including the 11 am start, consulted 13 November 2026.
- Italpress, account of the 2026 edition: snow, wind, arrival at the Rialto.
- Italian-traditions.com, French edition: mascarete, origin of the race, consulted 13 November 2026.
- Unfold Venice (Muranonet): boats and costumes, consulted 13 November 2026.
- In Venice Today, Regata delle Befane listing: 2024 cancellation for bad weather, source to be cross-checked.
- La Voce di Venezia, 2027 access-fee calendar: 72 days, from 26 March to 15 August 2027.
- Carnevale di Venezia, official site: 2027 Carnival dates, consulted 13 November 2026.
- In Venice Today, ACTV fares: 75-minute ticket and passes, checked 13 November 2026, to be confirmed on AVM.
Sources consulted on 13 November 2026. The Comune di Venezia and AVM pages were not usable at the time of consultation.
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