Thirty years after the historic “Chihuly Over Venice” project, the world-renowned artist returns to the lagoon with three new giant installations and a must-see archival exhibition
Venice prepares to welcome back one of the most iconic masters of contemporary art. From May 5 to November 14, 2026, coinciding with the Venice Art Biennale, the city will host CHIHULY: Venice 2026, a city-wide event celebrating the unbreakable bond between artist Dale Chihuly and the lagoon’s glassmaking tradition.
The project, presented by the Pilchuck Glass School and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, is more than just an exhibition; it is an open dialogue with the water and Venetian architecture. The heart of the initiative features three monumental sculptures installed along the Grand Canal, visible from the Ponte dell’Accademia, transforming the urban landscape into an open-air gallery.
Three Glass Towers on the Grand Canal
The works presented for CHIHULY: Venice 2026 represent the pinnacle of the artist’s technical experimentation:
- Gold Tower: Located in the garden of Palazzo Franchetti, this 9.5-meter tower glows with golden and honey hues, capturing sunlight in a layered, radiant shimmer.
- Blue Green Tower: Situated at Palazzo Balbi Valier, this piece plays with chromatic transitions between the deep blues at its base and emerald greens at the summit, creating a natural chiaroscuro that shifts throughout the day.
- End of the Day Chandelier: On the terrace of Palazzo Querini alla Carità, an explosion of colorful tendrils and spirals pays homage to the tradition of master glassmakers, suspended in vibrant tension over the water.
Archives and Research at Palazzo Loredan
In addition to the monumental installations, the CHIHULY: Venice 2026 project is complemented by an archival section at the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti. Curated by Suzanne Geiss, the exhibition at Palazzo Loredan retraces the behind-the-scenes journey of the legendary 1996 project through original photographs, faxes, and production notes.
Among the exhibition’s highlights are the Golden Celadon Baskets—works that challenge Murano’s technical precision by embracing asymmetry and the natural slump of the material, hallmarks of Chihuly’s distinctive American approach.
CHIHULY: Venice 2026 promises to be one of the most evocative events of the year, merging the precious fragility of glass with the monumental power of form, all under the watchful eye of a city that has lived through light and reflections for centuries.
