The Regata Storica at a glance
The Regata Storica is traditionally held on the first Sunday of September. Check the exact date before you go.
The day has two parts. A historic parade, the corteo storico, brings historic boats, costumed crews and rowing clubs onto the water. Traditional races follow. The route runs from the Bacino San Marco up the Grand Canal to Rialto and the railway station, then back to Ca' Foscari. If you cannot be there on the day, Grand Canal boat tours cover the same stretch on any other day.
The programme: parade and races
What the 2026 programme included. Start times can shift, so check the current schedule.
| Part | What you see | Start (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Corteo storico-sportivo | Historic boats, costumed crews and rowing clubs along the whole route | Between 15:10 and 15:30 |
| Youth races | Rowing race | – |
| Pupparini | Rowing race for pupparini boats | – |
| Caorline | Rowing race for caorline boats | – |
| Women's race on mascarete | Rowing race for women | 17:40 |
| Gondolini | Rowing race for gondolini, not the tourist gondolas | 18:10 |
For most visitors, the parade is the main event, and the races are a bonus if you can stay into the evening. The race boats are not the same as the gondolas you see on rides.
Our pick: try Venetian rowing yourself
Our take: outside regatta day, a rowing lesson is the way to feel how the racers move their boats.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Grand Canal boat tours and gondola rides
See the same stretch of the canal from the water on any other day of the year.
The route along the Grand Canal
The parade starts at the Bacino San Marco and enters the Grand Canal. It passes Rialto and carries on to the railway station at Ferrovia, then turns back and finishes near Ca' Foscari. The route covers a long stretch of the canal, so you can watch from many places along it.
Ca' Foscari is the finish area on the route. That does not mean a public terrace: the building belongs to the university, and no open viewing spot there is guaranteed. For the building itself, see our Grand Canal palaces page. For Rialto, the bridge and the market have their own guide at Rialto Bridge.
Planning for the day
Four things to sort out before you go.
Date and time
The date rule is firm: the first Sunday of September. Expect the parade to start between 15:10 and 15:30, and arrive well before. Confirm the schedule once the next edition's programme is out.
Boat travel that day
On the 2026 race day, public boat service on the Grand Canal was suspended from about 15:00 to 19:30. Expect a long gap in line 1 service around the parade and the races. Plan your route on foot, and read the Vaporetto line 1 page for the stop order if you need to cross the city.
Where to watch
Do not plan around a reserved seat or a guaranteed view. Plan for standing room along the route and arrive early. The four fixed crossings of the canal, covered on the Grand Canal bridges page, are how you get from one bank to the other on foot.
Tickets and booking
Do not count on a ticket or a booked place for watching. Boat tours and gondola rides on the day are a separate matter, so check what is running before you plan around one.
If you cannot be there on the day
Other ways to see the same water.
The parade is a one-day event, but the stretch it covers is open to boats all year. A line 1 ride from Piazzale Roma to San Marco Vallaresso passes Ferrovia, Rialto, Ca' Rezzonico, Accademia and Salute in that order. A gondola ride gives you the slower view. On Saturdays, Ca' Foscari, the building at the end of the route, also offers free student-led tours of the university, which are described on the Grand Canal museums page. Rooms and dates vary, so check before you go.
Regata Storica: frequently asked questions
When is the Regata Storica?
Traditionally on the first Sunday of September. Check the exact date before you go.
What time does the parade start?
Expect a start between 15:10 and 15:30 based on the 2026 programme. Arrive well before and confirm the time for the next edition.
Where does the route go?
From the Bacino San Marco up the Grand Canal past Rialto to Ferrovia, then back down to Ca' Foscari.
Can I buy tickets or reserve a place to watch?
Do not plan around a reserved seat or a guaranteed view. Arrive early and plan for standing room along the route.
Do boats run on the day of the Regata Storica?
On the 2026 race day, public boat service on the Grand Canal was suspended from about 15:00 to 19:30. Expect a similar gap and plan on foot.
Is this the official site of the Regata Storica?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no connection to the organisers or any rowing club. Use the event's own programme for the current schedule.