Les Étoiles brings an international ballet gala to Teatro La Fenice in Venice on Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13, 2026. The performances are listed for 7 p.m. on Saturday and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, offering a choice between an evening at the theatre and an afternoon of dance.
For travellers visiting Venice’s lagoon islands in December, ballet offers a memorable way to experience the city beyond its monuments. Les Étoiles places live performance inside one of Venice’s historic cultural institutions, combining the appeal of an international cast with the atmosphere of La Fenice.
"Les Étoiles places live performance inside one of Venice’s historic cultural institutions, combining the appeal of an international cast with the atmosphere of La Fenice."
Les Étoiles Venice 2026 Dates and Venue
December 12 and December 13 Performances
The published schedule lists:
- Saturday, December 12, 2026: 7 p.m.
- Sunday, December 13, 2026: 3:30 p.m.
- Venue: Teatro La Fenice.
- Address: Campo San Fantin, San Marco 1965, Venice.
- Season category: Dance 2026–2027.
Saturday’s evening performance can anchor a cultural weekend, while Sunday’s afternoon start leaves room for dinner afterward. Check the start time printed on your ticket. The season brochure contains general performance-time guidance, but individual event listings provide the relevant times for this gala.
Teatro La Fenice, Not Teatro Malibran
Ensure Your Destination is Correct
La Fenice’s season includes performances at both Teatro La Fenice and Teatro Malibran. Les Étoiles on December 12–13, 2026 is scheduled at Teatro La Fenice. This distinction matters when arranging transport or searching for directions. Use the theatre’s full name and Campo San Fantin address rather than assuming every event in the foundation’s programme takes place in the same building.
Les Étoiles Tickets and Official Prices
Base Prices From €15 to €120
La Fenice publishes a dedicated Les Étoiles price list applying to all performances. Standard base prices range from €15 for listening-only seats to €120 for selected stalls seats. Key categories include:
- Stalls: €100.
- Stalls, rows E–M: €120.
- Central boxes, front seats: €100.
- Central boxes, back seats: €85.
- Side boxes, first and second tiers, front seats: €85.
- Side boxes, third tier, front seats: €70.
- Central gallery: €65.
- Central upper gallery: €45.
- Restricted-view seats: €20–€50, depending on location.
- Listening-only seats: €15–€20.
These are published base prices, not a guarantee that every category remains available for both dates. The lowest-priced categories deserve particular attention. Listening-only admission may be suitable for hearing the music, but it is a significant compromise for a dance performance.
Choose a Seat for the Stage View
Maximize Your Ballet Experience
For Les Étoiles, seeing movement clearly should be a central part of the booking decision. Before paying, check:
- The seat’s viewing classification.
- Whether it is at the front or back of a box.
- Any stated restriction.
- The seating plan.
- The final price.
- Accessibility requirements.
Do not assume that a box seat provides an unrestricted view simply because it is inside a traditional theatre box. The official price list explicitly distinguishes front, back, restricted-view and listening-only categories. A clear-view seat is worth prioritising if this is your first ballet experience or the gala is the main reason for your trip.
Booking Fees and Box Office
Understand Additional Costs
The official brochure states an online credit-card booking fee of 10%, with a minimum of €5 and a maximum of €20 per ticket. Telephone bookings carry a 9.90% fee, with a €5 minimum and €10 maximum. The theatre’s box office is listed as open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the hour before a performance, sales are limited to that scheduled show.
The published information number is +39 041 2722699. Check the current ticket conditions and final checkout total before completing a booking. Third-party packages may include other services. Their totals should not be described as La Fenice’s standard ticket prices.
The Confirmed Les Étoiles Cast
Royal Ballet Dancers in Venice
The official event page names Fumi Kaneko and Vadim Muntagirov, both associated with The Royal Ballet in London. Their appearance gives London ballet audiences a familiar connection to the Venice gala. The listing confirms their participation, but it does not publish the pieces they will dance. Avoid attaching a particular ballet excerpt or partnership to their appearance unless the final programme establishes it.
Boston, Vienna and Budapest Connections
Global Talent on Stage
Other dancers named by La Fenice are:
- Madoka Sugai, Boston Ballet.
- Alessandro Lucia Frola, Wiener Staatsballett.
- Tatiana Melnik, Hungarian National Ballet.
- Motomi Kiyota, Hungarian National Ballet.
Together, these affiliations show the event’s international reach. They do not mean the complete companies are appearing. Les Étoiles is a gala featuring individual artists, not a tour by every ensemble represented in the cast. That distinction is useful for visitors comparing the event with a full-company production of a single ballet.
Sergio Bernal and Riva & Repele
Distinctive Performers
The cast also includes Sergio Bernal, listed with Sergio Bernal Dance Company in Madrid, and Simone Repele and Sasha Riva, listed with Riva & Repele in Geneva. Across the official roster, nine dancers are named. This is a count of the currently published cast, not a promise that the final roster cannot change. La Fenice’s season conditions reserve the right to alter programmes, casts, dates and times when necessary for artistic or technical reasons.
What to Expect From the Dance Gala
An International Ballet Format
La Fenice describes Les Étoiles as an international classical ballet gala featuring leading dance stars. The attraction is the opportunity to encounter several artists within one event rather than follow a single company through a full-length narrative production. However, the reviewed official listing does not establish the complete sequence of works, individual choreographers or musical selections. Advertisements elsewhere describe broader stylistic possibilities, but the final theatre programme should guide any precise claims about the repertoire.
Live Orchestra With Paolo Paroni
Enhancing the Ballet Experience
The La Fenice Orchestra and conductor Paolo Paroni are explicitly credited for the gala. That orchestral participation distinguishes the event from a dance programme advertised solely with recorded accompaniment. The official page does not explain the musical arrangement for every individual number. It would therefore be too specific to promise that every excerpt uses identical forces. For the audience, the confirmed presence of the orchestra adds another reason to choose a seat that balances stage visibility with the overall theatre experience.
A Welcoming First Ballet Visit
Enjoying the Performance
You do not need to know every dancer or ballet title before attending. Read the final programme when available, then watch for:
- Changes in movement and mood.
- How dancers relate to the music.
- The contrast between solos and partnerships, if programmed.
- The use of space.
- Differences in individual interpretation.
These are ways to enjoy the performance, not predictions of specific scenes. Les Étoiles on December 12–13, 2026 can work equally well as an introduction to ballet or as an opportunity for experienced audiences to see a varied cast.
La Fenice and Venice’s Cultural History
A Theatre Founded in 1792
Teatro La Fenice opened on May 16, 1792, during Venice’s Feast of the Ascension. The theatre’s official history places it within the city’s longstanding relationship with music and theatrical life. Its name and history carry particular significance because the institution has repeatedly recovered from destruction. Attending Les Étoiles allows visitors to experience La Fenice as a working theatre, not only as an architectural attraction. The dancers, orchestra and audience give the building its present-day purpose.
Reconstruction and Continuing Performance
A Resilient Institution
A fire destroyed La Fenice on January 29, 1996. The reconstructed theatre celebrated its return with an inaugural week in December 2003. That renewal forms part of the context for the current season. A performance ticket should not be assumed to include a guided tour. If you want to explore the building separately, check the theatre’s visitor arrangements and availability.
Plan a December Venice Ballet Weekend
Build Around Your Performance Time
For Saturday, December 12 at 7 p.m., an early meal can help avoid rushing. For Sunday, December 13 at 3:30 p.m., leave a comfortable gap between lunch and arrival. Independent itinerary ideas include:
- A walk through the San Marco area.
- Time around Campo San Fantin.
- A museum visit earlier in the day.
- A café stop before entering.
- Dinner after the performance.
These activities are not included with gala admission. A relaxed schedule is more enjoyable than arriving directly from a tightly packed sightseeing route.
Lagoon Island Travel
Ensure Smooth Connections
If staying on another lagoon island or outside central Venice, confirm your actual return connection before the performance. No dedicated Les Étoiles shuttle, included water transfer or extended transport service was verified. Do not plan around an assumed finishing time. Keep sufficient flexibility for the journey back, and save your accommodation address where it is easy to retrieve.
Dress, Accessibility and Arrival
Practical Considerations
La Fenice’s brochure requests jacket and tie for gentlemen and specifies dark suits for opening-night performances. Check the current guidance for your chosen date and dress comfortably enough for the journey as well as the theatre. Contact the venue before purchase if you need step-free access, assistance or particular seating. The cheapest available category may not suit those requirements. Bring your ticket, a charged phone and any identification requested during booking. Ask the theatre about late entry, photography, bags and coat storage rather than assuming another venue’s policies apply.
Les Étoiles Venice 2026 FAQs
The Things People Always Want to Know
When is Les Étoiles in Venice?
December 12 and December 13, 2026, at Teatro La Fenice.
What are the start times?
Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Confirm the time on your ticket.
How much are tickets?
Official base prices range from €15 to €120, depending on category, before booking fees.
Is there a live orchestra?
Yes. The La Fenice Orchestra is credited with conductor Paolo Paroni.
Which dancers are announced?
The official roster names Sergio Bernal, Madoka Sugai, Alessandro Lucia Frola, Fumi Kaneko, Vadim Muntagirov, Tatiana Melnik, Motomi Kiyota, Simone Repele and Sasha Riva.
Is the full repertoire available?
A complete sequence of works and choreographers was not established in the reviewed official listing.
How long does the gala last?
The complete duration and interval schedule were not verified.
Verified Information at a Glance
- Event category: International classical ballet and dance gala.
- Event name: Les Étoiles.
- Dates: December 12–13, 2026.
- Start times: Saturday 7 p.m.; Sunday 3:30 p.m.
- Venue: Teatro La Fenice, Venice.
- Address: Campo San Fantin, San Marco 1965.
- Standard base ticket prices: €15–€120.
- Online booking fee: 10%, minimum €5 and maximum €20 per ticket.
- Orchestra: La Fenice Orchestra.
- Conductor: Paolo Paroni.
- Published cast: Nine named dancers, subject to change.
- Not verified: Complete repertoire, duration, interval and live seat availability.
- Information checked: October 13, 2026.
Choose a performance, prioritise a suitable stage view and allow Venice time around the gala. On December 12 or December 13, 2026, Les Étoiles offers an inviting reason to discover the lagoon city through live dance, orchestral music and the enduring atmosphere of La Fenice.
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