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26-28.09.2026 European Day of Languages 2026 in Venice

#EDLangs #DiscoverTranslation

#EDL #GiornataEuropeadelleLingue

Thursday 26 September 2026 marks the European Day of Languages, celebrated across Europe. Venice is also taking part in the official celebrations with the event “European Day of Languages – Languages for Growth”. As in previous years, and since 2001, the initiative has encouraged reflection on the importance of language learning for the holistic development of the individual and on the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity, as an intangible heritage to be cherished, respected and protected.

The celebrations for the 26th European Day of Languages in Venice will take place on 28 September 2026 at the Auditorium Santa Margherita, Campo Santa Margherita, 30123 Venice VE, and are co-organised by Europe Direct Venezia Veneto of the City of Venice , Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the Veneto Regional Education Office (USR), the Italian seat of the Council of Europe, and the Marciana National Library.
-> The full programme of events will be available shortly
-> Link to the news item from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

The celebrations will also include the award ceremony for the Veneto schools’ competition “Languages for Growth: from Collodi to the coming-of-age story”, organised by the Veneto Regional Education Office (USR) in collaboration with Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the Italian seat of the Council of Europe, the Marciana National Library and Europe Direct Venezia Veneto of the City of Venice.

PROGRAMME – 28 SEPTEMBER IN VENICE

9:30 am Participant Registration

10:00 am Institutional Greetings

Elti Cattaruzza, Vice-Rector for the Right to Education and Student Services, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

Francesca Santulli, Director of the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

Mario Schwetz, Director of the Italian Office of the Council of Europe in Venice

Angela Riggio, Head of Office II, Veneto Regional School Office (USR Veneto)

Diana Saccardo, Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM), Directorate for International Affairs and the Internationalisation of the National Education System

Paola Mar, Councillor Delegate for Relations with the University, Municipality of Venice

Vito Borrelli, Representation in Italy of the European Commission

Moderator: Marie-Christine Jamet, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

10:30 am The “Adventures” of Children's Literature in Major Libraries

Stefano Trovato, Director of the National Marciana Library

10:45 am European Youth Mobility to Promote Multilingualism

Francesca Vianello, Head of Europe Direct Venezia Veneto, Municipality of Venice

11:00 am Concert-Lecture “Languages for Growth: Pinocchio Is Not Just a Children’s Book”

Laura Tosi (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice), with the participation of Fabio Caon (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice) and his musicians, featuring readings in several languages by Ca’ Foscari students.

11:45 am Award Ceremony for the Veneto Schools Competition “Languages for Growth: From Collodi to the Coming-of-Age Story”

12:30 pm Musical Closing Performance – Ensemble Music Group

Wind Ensemble of IIS Marco Polo Art High School, Venice.

Throughout the day, visitors will also have the opportunity to view the exhibition “Fairy Tales and Fundamental Values” at the Auditorium Santa Margherita in Venice. The exhibition is curated by Michèle Sajous D’Oria, President of the Alliance Française of Bari, and Marie-Christine Jamet of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, with graphic design and illustrations by Mario Brambilla. The exhibition “Fairy Tales and Fundamental Values” is produced by the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and the Alliance Française of Bari, with the support of the Council of Europe Office in Venice and Europe Direct Venezia Veneto of the Municipality of Venice. It is held under the patronage of the Veneto Regional School Office, the Italian Ministry of Culture, the National Marciana Library, the Città in Festa programme of the Municipality of Venice, and the Institut Français Italia.

#TimetoMove2026

The event is part of the Time to Move 2026 campaign: a series of online and in-person events organized by the Eurodesk network across Europe every year around the month of October, focusing on youth mobility opportunities in Europe.

‘LANGUAGES FOR GROWING UP: FROM COLLODI TO THE FORMATION NARRATIVE’ COMPETITION:

To mark the bicentenary of Collodi’s birth and in relation to his masterpiece “Pinocchio”, regarded as a coming-of-age story, students from IISS schools of all levels, either individually or in groups, are invited to reflect on the importance of languages for “growth” and are required to produce a short video (maximum 60 seconds), in at least three national languages, presenting a fairy tale or coming-of-age story featuring characters travelling across Europe, which celebrates European values and promotes multiculturalism. The entries will be selected by a panel and the results will be announced to participants during the European Day of Languages in Venice.

Videos will be judged on the basis of the following criteria:
originality;
technical quality;
relevance to the proposed theme;
multicultural and multilingual aspects.
The deadline for submitting videos is 3 July 2026.

For information on the school competition:
tel. 041-2723137
drve.progettieu@istruzione.it
-> For further information on the competition, visit the website of the Veneto Regional Education Office

Since 2021, EUROPE DIRECT Venezia Veneto has been the national contact point for the European Day of Languages, in coordination with the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe in Graz, which is responsible for the official website translated into 37 different languages.

Visit the dedicated section of the website to find useful downloadable materials and information if you want to join the initiative by organizing your own event.

The European Day of Languages is an event held across Europe every year on September 26 with the aim of raising awareness of the wide variety of languages in Europe, promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, and encouraging people of all ages to learn languages, because speaking more than one language facilitates contact with people and helps to find work and grow businesses.

The European Day of Languages was established by the European Commission and the Council of Europe, which represents 800 million Europeans from 47 different countries. Many cultural and linguistic institutions, associations, universities, and, in particular, schools participate in the event. Established in 2001, on the occasion of the European Year of Languages, this day has been celebrated every year since then.

On September 26 and in the days leading up to and following it, language courses, games, conversations, conferences, radio programs, and many other initiatives are organized throughout Europe.

- EVENTS IN EUROPE: events can be found on the Council of Europe website dedicated to the European Day of Languages

- EVENTS IN ITALY: events can be found on the website of the European Commission Representation (in collaboration with their partners in all EU Member States)

Some photos of the event in Venice of 2025: