Venissimo - Venetian Carnival of Toul
The Venetian carnival in the heart of the medieval city of Toul
About Venissimo
Venice comes to Toul
Created in 2024, Venissimo is the first Venetian carnival in the city of Toul, in Meurthe-et-Moselle. Supported by the association Rencontres Intemporelles, this spring event transforms the historic center of the medieval city into a true open-air Venetian stage. Dozens of costumed participants, adorned with masks and handmade embroidered outfits, mingle freely with the public, offering a striking visual spectacle.
An exceptional heritage setting
The carnival unfolds in Toul's most emblematic locations: the parvis and cloister of the Saint-Étienne cathedral, a Gothic jewel classified as a historic monument, and the gardens of the town hall. These historic settings provide a perfect backdrop for the participants' shimmering costumes, creating remarkably beautiful living tableaux that visitors can capture during photo sessions throughout the day.
Strolls and parade
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Venetian costumed figures stroll freely through the town center. The highlight of the event is the grand parade on Saturday afternoon, which starts from the cathedral parvis and heads to the Les Remp'Arts media library, offering a colorful procession through the streets of Toul.
Artisan market and activities
Venissimo is not just about costumes: a market of local artisans and producers accompanies the event, allowing visitors to discover original creations and local specialties from Lorraine. Workshops for making Venetian masks are also offered, inviting young and old to learn this ancestral art.
The art of Venetian costume
The participants, enthusiasts from all over France and sometimes from beyond its borders, craft their own costumes themselves, rich in colors, lace, and embroidery, in the purest tradition of the Venice Carnival. Each outfit is a unique work of art, the result of hundreds of hours of meticulous work. This artisanal and artistic dimension distinguishes Venissimo from traditional carnivals and makes it a cultural event in its own right.
Growing success
From its very first edition in 2024, Venissimo attracted several thousand visitors, confirming the public's enthusiasm for this original event in the cultural landscape of Lorraine. Building on this success, the association Rencontres Intemporelles has renewed the event from 2025 onwards, consolidating Toul as a must-visit destination for Venetian carnivals in France.
Venissimo — edition 2026
The 3rd edition of Venissimo, the Venetian carnival of Toul, was held on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, 2026 on the forecourt of Saint-Étienne Cathedral and in the gardens of the town hall. On the program: strolls by Venetian costumed participants, a grand parade on Saturday at 3 PM from the cathedral, a dance show by the Art Scène Danse company, stilt walkers, a market of artisan creators, and a group photo on Sunday at noon. Free entry.
3rd Edition — May 2 and 3, 2026
The third edition of Venissimo, organized by the Rencontres Intemporelles association, was held on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, 2026 in the heart of the medieval city of Toul. For two days, dozens of Venetian costumed participants, adorned with masks and hand-embroidered outfits, freely strolled among the public on the forecourt and cloister of Saint-Étienne Cathedral, as well as in the gardens of the town hall.
Highlights of the Edition
The climax of the event was the grand parade on Saturday afternoon at 3 PM, which started from the cathedral forecourt to reach the Les Remp'Arts media library through the streets of Toul. On Sunday, the public could attend a dance show presented by the local company Art Scène Danse at 11 AM in the town hall garden, followed at 1:30 PM by a stilt walker performance. A large group photo of the costumed participants was held on Sunday at noon in the gardens.
Activities and Artisan Market
Throughout the weekend, a market of artisan creators and local producers accompanied the event, and a makeup artist offered free face painting to visitors. A retrospective photo exhibition of previous editions was presented at the Toul media library until May 2.
Hours for the 2026 Edition
Saturday, May 2: 10 AM-12 PM and 1:30 PM-6 PM
Sunday, May 3: 10 AM-12 PM and 1:30 PM-5 PM
Programme Venissimo 2026
Saturday, May 2, 2026
- 10 AM-12 PM — Free strolls by Venetian costumed participants on the cathedral forecourt and in the town hall gardens
- 1:30 PM-6 PM — Free strolls and photo sessions with the public
- 3 PM — Grand parade of costumed participants starting from the Saint-Étienne Cathedral forecourt, heading towards the Les Remp'Arts media library through the streets of the historic center
Sunday, May 3, 2026
- 10 AM-12 PM — Free strolls by Venetian costumed participants
- 11 AM — Dance show by the Art Scène Danse company in the town hall garden (local Toul company created in 2013)
- 12 PM — Large group photo of Venetian costumed participants in the town hall gardens
- 1:30 PM — Stilt walker performance
- 1:30 PM-5 PM — Free strolls, photo sessions, artisan market, and free face painting
Official program of the 3rd edition as announced by the Rencontres Intemporelles association.
Highlights Venissimo 2026
- 3rd edition of the Venetian carnival of Toul
- Free strolls by Venetian costumed participants on Saturday and Sunday
- Grand parade on Saturday at 3 PM from Saint-Étienne Cathedral
- Dance show by the Art Scène Danse company (Sunday 11 AM)
- Stilt walker performance (Sunday 1:30 PM)
- Group photo of costumed participants Sunday at noon in the gardens
- Market of artisan creators and local producers
- Free face painting for visitors
- Retrospective photo exhibition at the media library until May 2
- Free entry for the public
Prices Venissimo 2026
Practical information — Venissimo
Access
Toul is located 23 km west of Nancy, easily accessible by the A31 motorway.
- By car: From Nancy, take the A31 towards Toul/Paris, exit Toul-Centre (approx. 20 minutes). Free parking in the city center.
- By train: Toul station, served by TER Grand Est from Nancy (15 minutes) and Paris-Est via TGV to Nancy.
Locations
The carnival takes place on the parvis and cloister of the Saint-Étienne cathedral as well as in the gardens of the town hall, in the heart of Toul's historic center.
Hours
Free strolls from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Grand parade on Saturday afternoon from 3 p.m.
Prices
Free admission for the public.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 06 08 42 94 51
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Where does it take place — Venissimo
Cathédrale Saint-Étienne et Jardins de l'Hôtel de Ville
Parvis de la Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, Toul, 54200 Toul