CHIHULY: VENICE 2026

MAY 5 – NOVEMBER 14, 2026

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark project Chihuly Over Venice. To honor that milestone, Chihuly will return to Venice to debut CHIHULY: Venice 2026, presented by Pilchuck Glass School and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

The exhibition will feature three new sculptures installed along the Grand Canal, honoring Venice, the place that fundamentally shaped Chihuly’s career. There will also be an interpretive and archival center curated by renowned art advisor and contemporary art curator, Suzanne Geiss. The exhibition will open May 5 at the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, concurrent with the Venice Biennale.

Dale Chihuly, Gold Tower (detail), 2025

Dale Chihuly, Gold Tower (detail), 2025

A tribute to Venice in three works

All three monumental outdoor works will be visible from the Accademia Bridge, known for its panoramic views of the Grand Canal. These new works extend the formal vocabulary Chihuly developed in the decades leading up to and following Chihuly Over Venice. The 30' Gold Tower (2025) in Palazzo Franchetti’s garden will invite visitors to experience the intricate nature of the artwork and closely view the new forms created specifically for this Venetian presentation.

The Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti at Palazzo Loredan, in Campo Santo Stefano is adjacent to the installations and will house as an interpretive and archival center. In this intimate setting, drawings, photographs, videos, and documentation will chart the evolution of Chihuly’s process; the making of Chihuly Over Venice; and the artist’s lifelong engagement with experimentation, collaboration, and risk. Archival materials and selected artworks will ground the outdoor installations in narrative, history, and material practice.

  • “What better time to revisit the city that transformed Dale’s life and career than on the 30th anniversary of “Chihuly Over Venice?” It will be a chance to reflect on his legacy, the impact he has had, and the inspiration we have all received from this remarkable city.”

    —Leslie Jackson Chihuly, President and CEO of Chihuly Studio

  • “Venice has always been a crucible for Chihuly, a place where he confronted tradition, expanded his vocabulary, and embraced the creative risks that transformed his work. "CHIHULY: Venice 2026" brings that history full circle.”

    —Suzanne Geiss, Curator

  • “There is nothing that possibly compares with Venice. Its light, its history, and its breathtaking architecture have been a constant source of inspiration for me.”

    —Chihuly, Artist