St Mark's Square hosts Murano glass show until 1 November
Published on 10/21/2026 at 14:38 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSGlass, arcades and autumn dates
- The City of Venice lists the exhibition from 13 September to 1 November 2026 beneath the Procuratie Vecchie.
- Twelve light installations bring Murano glass and contemporary design to the arcades beside the square.
- The Procuratie Vecchie date mainly from the first half of the sixteenth century and extend for 150 metres.
St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) in Venice is the setting for Murano Lights Up the World, a public glass exhibition continuing until 1 November 2026. The display places twelve light installations beneath the arcades of the Procuratie Vecchie, linking a current programme of contemporary design with one of Italy's best-known historic squares.
The exhibition opened on 13 September 2026 as the flagship project of The Venice Glass Week 2026. The City of Venice lists the venue as the Procuratie Vecchie in St Mark's Square, with the final day falling on 1 November 2026.
Murano Lights Up the World continues until 1 November
The project brings international artists and designers together with Murano glassworks. The stated subject is the chandelier, interpreted through twelve new illuminated installations displayed under the historic arcades.
Named participants include Norman Foster, Bethan Laura Wood, Pierre Charpin, Amanda Levete, Cerith Wyn Evans and Chiara Dynys. Their works were made in collaboration with Murano producers including Salviati, Gambaro and Tagliapietra, Simone Cenedese and Yalos Murano. The City's exhibition listing identifies the installations and the programme link to The Venice Glass Week.
The exhibition remains particularly relevant to visitors in the final part of its run because the installations are not in a separate out-of-town venue. They are positioned beneath the Procuratie Vecchie, allowing the glass works to be encountered within the architectural frame of the square itself.
The Procuratie Vecchie frame the glass installations
The Procuratie Vecchie occupy one entire side of St Mark's Square. Italy's national tourism portal describes the building as 150 metres long, with three arcades and 100 windows, extending from the Clock Tower towards the Correr Museum.
The complex was built in the first half of the sixteenth century on the initiative of Doge Andrea Gritti. It originally housed the Procurators of St Mark, officials connected with the administration of the basilica and civic responsibilities. The building reopened to visitors in spring 2022 after a five-year restoration, and it now includes The Human Safety Net alongside cultural and visitor spaces. This history explains why the exhibition's chandeliers are presented as part of the square's arcaded architecture rather than as isolated gallery objects. The Procuratie Vecchie background records the building's dimensions, history and present use.
Guided visits add dates to the final exhibition weeks
The City of Venice also lists guided visits to the twelve installations during the final weeks. Further sessions are scheduled for 22 October and 29 October 2026 in Italian and English, with the meeting point along the Procuratie Vecchie arcade near Caffè Lavena.
These sessions give the autumn programme a direct connection to the works rather than treating the installation as background decoration. Visitors can see how the exhibition uses the repeated arches, public circulation space and historic building frontage to frame contemporary Murano glass.
Visiting St Mark's Square: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The exhibition runs at the Procuratie Vecchie in St Mark's Square from 13 September to 1 November 2026.
- The twelve light installations are presented as a public exhibition, while guided visits listed by the city explain the works beneath the Procuratie Vecchie.
- The meeting point for the listed guided visits is along the Procuratie Vecchie arcade near Caffè Lavena, in Venice's historic centre.
St Mark's Square therefore offers a time-specific glass programme alongside its permanent architectural setting during the final days of October and the first day of November.
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Frequently asked questions about St Mark's Square
When does Murano Lights Up the World take place at St Mark's Square?
The exhibition runs from 13 September to 1 November 2026 beneath the Procuratie Vecchie.
What is being shown at St Mark's Square?
Twelve illuminated chandelier installations created through collaborations between contemporary artists, designers and Murano glassworks are displayed there.
Where is St Mark's Square and how do you get there?
It is in the historic centre of Venice, with the exhibition located along the Procuratie Vecchie arcade near Caffè Lavena.
