As Venice readies itself for the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia (May 9–November 22, 2026), the city is entering a moment of renewal. Art, architecture, and hospitality are converging with renewed energy. Curated by Koyo Kouoh under the theme “In Minor Keys,” the Biennale will once again transform the Giardini and the Arsenale into the global centre of contemporary art. Beyond the exhibition venues, however, Venice itself is undergoing a renaissance of sorts, marked by a string of significant hotel openings, restorations, and new cultural spaces.
At the forefront of this revival is the legendary Hotel Danieli, which, after an extensive restoration, is scheduled to reopen on 26 August 2026, just as the Biennale would be underway. This time, as Danieli, a Four Seasons Hotel.
Spread across three historic palazzi, including the 14th-century Palazzo Dandolo, the landmark property has been reimagined by designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, blending Murano glass, Venetian fabrics, and lagoon-inspired tones with contemporary refinement. The renewed hotel will feature around 120 rooms and suites, the revived rooftop Restaurant Terrazza Danieli, Bar Dandolo, and a new Danieli Spa set to open later in the year. Thankfully, its historic soul and Gothic bones remain untouched.
This hotel has long been an address for artists and aristocrats and will continue to retain its old-world aura.
Another Venetian palace is beginning a glamorous new chapter. Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, scheduled to debut in April 2026, will transform a 15th-century Gothic residence in Cannaregio into an intimate 45-room retreat. Restored frescoes, verdant gardens, and an atmospheric bar will channel the romance associated with the legendary Orient Express.
Rather than a conventional heritage restoration, the palace is being reinterpreted through the mythology of the Orient Express, that golden age of slow travel, intrigue, and indulgence. Think rich textures, lacquered woods, burnished metals, and deep, enveloping colours. With just 45 rooms, the scale is deliberately restrained.
Established icons are also refreshing their offerings. Oro Restaurant, located within the Belmond Hotel Cipriani on Giudecca Island, featuring views of the Venetian lagoon, is all set to reopen on April 23, 2026. There will be a fabulous Michelin-level concept helmed by acclaimed chefs Vania Ghedini and Massimo Bottura. This duetto will be worth watching for its contrasting notes. Bottura’s signature approach to reinterpreting Italian classics meets Ghedini’s sensitivity to seasonality and place. Expect dishes that are all about memory and storytelling, Venetian style.
That’s not all, for the Belmond Hotel Cipriani is also unveiling a new Dior Spa this year. Designed by Peter Marino, the spa will blend well-being with the Venetian luxury that the hotel is known for. The spa will offer high-tech facials and holistic therapies inspired by Venetian balls and Christian Dior's love for art and celebration.
Venice is recalibrating its identity. There is now a conscious shift from volume-driven tourism toward curated, experience-led hospitality. In 2021, Italy prohibited large cruise ships from entering Venice’s historic center and passing through the Giudecca Canal. This measure was designed to safeguard the city’s fragile architecture and lagoon ecosystem. Venice requires day-trippers to pay a fee of €5 to €10 on designated peak days between April and July to curb overtourism. This came into force in 2024.
“My cicchetti tours are very popular, but now the intent is changing. There is a growing appetite for authentic experiences and deep cultural interaction. I am especially interested in highlighting the stories behind the bacari, seasonal ingredients, local producers, and the traditions that still shape everyday Venetian life,” shares Monica Cesarato, who has been leading pub-crawls to local bars or bacari for the tapas-like cicchetti and wine, imbuing these experiences with rich storytelling.
The cultural programme surrounding the Biennale is equally compelling. The Gallerie dell'Accademia will host Transforming Energy, a landmark exhibition by Marina Abramović, while new gallery spaces such as Galeries Bartoux Venezia are opening across the city.
By the time the art world gathers in Venice in 2026, the Biennale will not only showcase global creativity but give Venice a renewed fillip.