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The Venice Glass Week: Glass Art and the “Sogni Veneziani” Exhibition at Florian
Every September, Venice celebrates its centuries-old glassmaking tradition with The Venice Glass Week, an international festival turning the city into the global capital of glass art. For the 2026 edition, Caffè Florian participates by hosting the “Sogni Veneziani” exhibition by master Seguso within its historic rooms.
This unique event allows the delicate transparency of Murano glass to interact with the frescoes and mirrors of the world’s oldest café, reinforcing Florian’s enduring connection with contemporary art.
The Venice Glass Week: Celebrating Murano Glass Excellence
Ten years and more than 200 events. These are just some of the figures that tell the story of The Venice Glass Week, an international festival created to support and promote the art of glass, with a particular focus on Venice’s centuries-old glassmaking tradition.
But what makes the festival worth exploring even for those who are not experts in the field? Its city-wide format is certainly part of the answer. There is no single exhibition venue: exhibitions, installations and events invite visitors to move between Venice, Murano and Mestre, discovering workshops, galleries and historic locations along the way.
The 2026 edition offers another reason to take part, with the presentation of the “The Venice Glass Week and the Murano Glass District” Observatory, created by Banca Ifis. The study explores Murano’s role as both a productive and cultural district, as well as the impact of the festival over its first decade.
Murano glass chandeliers by the artist Silvano Rubino at Vetreria Anfora - photo @archivioflorian
“Sogni Veneziani” Exhibition: Seguso’s Mastery Meets Florian
What if glass could tell the story not of who we are, but of who we are becoming?
This is the question at the heart of “Sogni Veneziani”, the exhibition by Pierpaolo Seguso hosted in Florian’s Historic Rooms from 12 September to 18 October. His works stem from a reflection on inner change and on the often invisible journey through which thoughts, experiences and awareness evolve throughout our lives.
Some of the art works from the "Sogni Veneziani" exhibition by Maestro Seguso.
Seguso focuses above all on the process rather than the final result. His sculptures tell stories of research, transformation, difficulty and growth, using glass as the ideal material to represent a state of constant becoming: fluid while it is being shaped, fragile yet solid once transformed, and always capable of taking on a new form.
The title itself, “Sogni Veneziani”, therefore suggests a journey rather than a destination, with each work becoming a kind of snapshot of a thought in the process of changing.
Glass Art in Historic Rooms: Light, Material, and Memory
At Florian, the works are not simply displayed. They become part of a space that already has its own visual history.
The transparency and reflections of glass interact with the mirrors, frescoes, gilded details and decorations of the Historic Rooms, creating a play of light that changes throughout the day. Looking at the same work in the morning and again in the afternoon is enough to notice how much its surroundings can influence the way it is perceived.
This is one of the most fascinating aspects of art exhibitions at Caffè Florian: contemporary art is never isolated from its setting, but placed within a space where past and present continue to meet.
The Historic Bond Between Caffè Florian and Murano Glassmasters
The connection between Florian and the world of glass did not begin with this exhibition.
Throughout its history, Caffè Florian has paid particular attention to art and design, hosting exhibitions and works by Italian and international artists in its Historic Rooms.
Murano glass in Venice has also played an important role in this journey, through exhibitions and collaborations that have brought some of the most interesting names in contemporary glassmaking to Florian.
Over the years, the Historic Rooms have welcomed artists such as Silvano Rubino, Lucio Bubacco, Mauro Bonaventura, Davide Salvadore, Massimo Nordio, Antonio and Giovanni Dei Rossi, Fabio Fornasier, Ercole Moretti and Lilla Tabasso, alongside international figures such as Richard Marquis, Yoichi Ohira, Toots Zinsky and Oskar Kogoj.
This is a list that reflects a clear vocation: to consider Florian not only as a place of Venetian heritage and memory, but also as a space open to contemporary creativity.
A Sensory Journey: Glass Masterpieces and Gourmet Tasting
Visiting an exhibition at Florian can become an experience that goes far beyond what we see.
There are Seguso’s works, with their shapes and transparency; then there are the sounds of the Florian Orchestra, whose live performances accompany life at the café during the beautiful season. Then comes taste, with signature cocktails to enjoy during a pause alongside the specialities on the seasonal menu, while the sense of smell also has its own place in Florian’s fragrances, inspired by the atmosphere and details of the Historic Rooms.
So why simply look at an exhibition when you can experience the place that hosts it through all your senses?
Visitor’s Guide: Experiencing Glass Week in St. Mark’s Square
If you are planning to follow The Venice Glass Week 2026, it is worth avoiding a one-area itinerary. The festival’s city-wide programme makes it possible to create your own route between Venice and Murano, alternating major exhibitions with smaller workshops and events dedicated to the art of glassmaking.
In St Mark’s Square, a stop at Florian offers a particularly special experience. From 12 September to 18 October, you can discover Sogni Veneziani by Pierpaolo Seguso in the Historic Rooms and, after the exhibition, stay for a break over a cocktail or one of the café’s specialities.
It is a simple way to make the exhibition part of a day in Venice, allowing contemporary glass to meet history, music and the atmosphere of one of the city’s most iconic places.
Frequently asked questions about The Venice Glass Week
What is The Venice Glass Week?
It is an international festival dedicated to the art of glass, held every year in Venice, Murano and Mestre. In 2026, from 12 to 20 September, it celebrates its tenth edition with more than 200 events.
Why is Murano glass famous?
Murano glass is famous for its centuries-old tradition of exceptional craftsmanship, secret techniques, and high-purity materials practiced exclusively on the island of Murano in Italy.
What art exhibitions are in Venice in September?
Venice hosts several major ongoing contemporary art exhibitions and special glass events in September 2026, such as:
– Jenny Saville at Ca’ Pesaro (Running until November 22, 2026).
– Erwin Wurm at the Fortuny Museum (Running until November 22, 2026).
– Peggy Guggenheim in London: The Making of a Collector at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Running until October 19, 2026).
