3rd Edition
January 15-16-17, 2027
Venice, Teatro A L’Avogaria
The Venice Burlesque Festival is doubling up! Competition Night & Grand Gala with exclusive prizes, original workshops, and the iconic photo shoot in the most beautiful city in the world.
Location
TEATRO A L’AVOGARIA
Dorsoduro 1617
30123 Venezia
Teatro A L'Avogaria is one of the most characteristic independent theaters in Venice.
A picturesque gem in the heart of the historic city, it was founded in 1969 by Giovanni Poli.
This theater is also famous abroad for its numerous international events. Its role is important for traditional Venetian performances, particularly the Commedia dell'Arte.
Teatro A L'Avogaria is located in the historic center of Venice, in the Dorsoduro district, just a short walk from Campo Santa Margherita, the Zattere, or the Accademia. The theater is accessed from Calle dell'Avogaria, next to the Church of San Sebastiano, a 16th-century architectural jewel entirely decorated with paintings by Paolo Veronese.
Teatro A L'Avogaria is easily reachable on foot from Piazzale Roma (10 minutes) or Santa Lucia Station (15 minutes), or by public water transport with the San Basilio stop just 200 meters away. The historic center of Venice is 20 minutes from Venice Marco Polo Airport and 40 minutes from Treviso Canova Airport.
Staff
Artistic Direction: Crazy Cat
Crazy Cat was born and lives in Venice and travels throughout Europe. A versatile artist, she trained in acting and classical and modern dance, including belly dancing. She fell in love with burlesque in 2013. Since then, she has been a burlesque performer, pin-up model, photoshoot model, body-painting and painting model, burlesque and burlesque-therapy teacher, event organizer, producer, and artistic director of shows in Italy.
Staff: Le Burlescose
Le Burlescose is an artistic collective founded in 2018 that, under the artistic direction of Crazy Cat, organizes burlesque evenings and shows. Le Burlescose has gradually grown to include about thirty happily imperfect women from Venice and Veneto who perform burlesque in Italy.
Logo
Here is the logo of the Venice Burlesque Festival.
Linear, clean, iconic.
Venice is the shiny iron of its gondolas. Venice is its cats, elegant and sly.
Clear writing, a retro font. Details make the difference.
An original logo. A pinch of pride.
Thanks to the graphic team of Force One Magazine of Montecarlo who collaborates on our festival
LINK: https://www.force-one.net
Programme
3rd Edition Venice Burlesque Festival · January 15-16-17, 2027
A whole weekend dedicated to the art of burlesque in the magical atmosphere of Venice, one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
Friday, January 15
Workshop & Contest Night
The festival kicks off with a day of workshops, culminating in the Contest Night: a spectacular competition featuring national and international talents in a show full of charm, style and surprises. The jury will vote for the top three performers: first place "Doge or Dogaressa", second place "Colombina", third place "Corallina" (characters from the history of the Serenissima and the Commedia dell'Arte), while the audience will vote for their favourite artist with the special "Gondola" award.
Saturday, January 16
Workshop & Grand Gala
The second day brings more workshops and the 2027 novelty, the Grand Gala, with exceptional performers, extraordinary acts and all the glamour that defines the world of burlesque.
Sunday, January 17
Photo Tour & Farewell Lunch
The festival closes with an exclusive photo shoot among the most striking corners of Venice's historic centre, reserved for the contest and gala artists in a setting unique in the world. Afterwards, the farewell lunch for the artists will be the perfect occasion to say goodbye, share memories and emotions, and look forward to the next edition.
Jury and special Guests
Our Jury:
Prizes and opportunities
The Venice Burlesque Festival 2027 offers all Contest and Gala performers a photo shoot that will take place in the historic center of Venice on Sunday, January 17th, 2027.
In addition, the following are included:
- Welcome kit, certificate and photo shoot in Venice for all Contest and Gala performers
- Sash and tribute to the first 3 classified artists and to the audience award winner
- Corset, ForceOne article, BurlesqueNews interview and performance at the Venice Carnival for the winning artist
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027, the "Compagnia de Calza I Antichi" Association offers the winner the opportunity to perform at the historic Erotic Poetry Festival, held during the Venice Carnival on Saturday, February 6th, 2027, at the Teatro A L'Avogaria.
Link: https://www.iantichi.org/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027, Nicoletta Lucerna offers the winner one of the precious corsets from La Corsetteria.
Link: https://www.instagram.com/corsetteria/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027, Francesco Briggi handcrafted the cloak, the sceptre and the Doge's Horn in his historic Pietro Longhi Atelier, with which the winner will be crowned during the photo shoot in Venice.
Link: https://www.pietrolonghi.com/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027, Luca Marotta offers the winner a feature in the first 2027 edition of Force One Magazine.
Link: https://www.force-one.net/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027, Cristiana De Giglio offers the winner an interview with Burlesque News Italia.
Link: https://www.burlesquenews.it/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027, producer Lulu Txispun will select an artist for the Barcelona Burlesque Meeting & Festival 2027.
Link: https://www.bcnburlesquemeeting.com/
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027, producer Vanille Bon Bon will select an artist for the Amazing Flamingo - Cabaret & Burlesque Torino Festival 2027.
Link: https://linktr.ee/amazingflamingo
At the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027, Maristella Galotti, also known by her stage name Sea Star, will select one performer for the Bologna Burlesque Festival 2027.
Link: https://www.instagram.com/bolognaburlesquefestival/
Partners & Collaborations
Nicoletta Lucerna will offer the winner of the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027 one of the precious corsets from La Corsetteria. Corsets, accessories and custom-made outfits, handmade with precious materials in the workshop where Nicoletta Lucerna studies every detail to enhance the shape of every woman.
Marilisa Dal Cason will offer the winner of the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027 Audience Award a unique handcrafted mask created by her for the occasion. Marilisa Dal Cason, stage name Deep Soul, is a burlesque performer and mask maker, a student of Gualtiero Dall'Osto, with decades of experience in her artisan workshop "L'arlecchino" in Rialto, in the heart of Venice. Deep Soul personally creates her stage costumes, masterpieces of creativity and craftsmanship, for which she has received several awards at burlesque festivals in Italy and beyond.
https://www.instagram.com/larlecchino_official
Francesco Briggi handcrafted in his historic Atelier Pietro Longhi the Doge's Horn,
the cloak and the sceptre with which the Dogaressa of the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027 will be
crowned on the awards evening and during the photo shoot in Venice.
Thirty years ago, thanks to the artisan tailor Francesco Briggi, the story of Atelier Pietro Longhi began.
A story made of difficult choices in the name of quality, craftsmanship and the culture of costume.
For this reason the atelier is cited by connoisseurs of the one-of-a-kind piece as a reference for artisan luxury.
Official Atelier of the Venice Carnival since 2017, it is involved in the most important events held in the city and beyond.
https://www.pietrolonghi.com/
The "Compagnia de Calza I Antichi" Association will offer the winner of the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027 the opportunity to perform at the historic Erotic Poetry Festival, held during the Venice Carnival on Saturday, February 6th, 2027, at the Teatro A L'Avogaria.
The "Compagnia de Calza I Antichi" Association is the oldest still-active association of the Venice Carnival. Founded in 1979, it has been a promoter of the Venice Carnival since the 1980s. It has collaborated with the main Venetian institutions, the Municipality and the Biennale, for public celebrations in Venice and other Italian and foreign cities, and for the revival of traditional Venetian festivities. It draws its origin from the statutes of the Renaissance "Compagnie della Calza" (Companies of the Hose), associations of young nobles who gathered during Carnival to organize events and celebrations, aiming to showcase their artistic and organizational skills. They were distinguished from one another by the color of the hose (the breeches or trousers of the time) worn by their members.
https://www.iantichi.org/
Cristiana De Giglio, Director of the Italian portal Burlesque News, will offer the winner of the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027
an interview on Burlesque News Italia. Through its social channels, website and YouTube, Burlesque News Italia
covers burlesque in all its facets: shows, performers, workshops, schools, courses, interviews... in short, everything
related to the burlesque world, spreading the news to everyone.
https://www.burlesquenews.it/
Luca Marotta, Publisher of Force One Magazine, will offer the winner of the
Venice Burlesque Festival 2027 a feature in the first 2027 issue of Force One.
He also created the Festival's logo and coordinated graphics.
Force One is the number one extra-luxury magazine of the Côte d'Azur, in English for a high-profile international readership.
Large format, ultra-glossy, with selected distribution in the most exclusive locations of Monte Carlo, the Côte d'Azur
and the French Alps. On private jets and helicopters, megayachts, and luxury events.
With a limited and selective distribution, the magazine (and its website) is seen by a carefully selected demographic.
http://www.force-one.net/
Prizes for the winners and gifts for the participants will be offered by Bottega Gold spa, for four centuries
passionate about viticulture in the Prosecco hills, whose Bottega wines and
Alexander spirits are renowned worldwide to this day.
https://www.bottegaspa.com/le-collezioni/grappe/grappe-alexander/
Marcos Mattiazzi will offer his Danilo Venezia Wine wines to toast during the Venice Burlesque Festival 2027.
Danilo Venezia Wine is a shop in Venice on Calle Avogaria offering high-quality wines from Venetian
tradition, made from native grape varieties, as well as selected international wines.
https://daniloveneziawine.it/
Rules & Application
How to apply
Send your application to info@veniceburlesquefestival.it, attaching the completed application form in PDF format and the receipt of the registration fee payment.
On the application form, please specify whether you are applying for the Contest on Friday 15 January 2027 or for the Gala on Saturday 16 January 2027.
Gala fee
Each participant selected to perform at the Gala on Saturday 16 January 2027 will receive €100.
The winner of the Contest will perform at the Gala without a fee.
Registration fee
- The €20 fee is non-refundable.
- Payment must be made via www.PayPal.com to paypal@iantichi.org from the same email address used to send the application. If this is not possible, please clearly note both in your application and in your payment that you are using a different name.
- Make sure to note your legal name and performer name in the payment.
- Important notice: do not forget to include the PayPal receipt in the application email.
Commitment
- If you are selected to perform at the VBF, you must confirm by Tuesday, October 6, 2026 by sending an email with your MP3 music file (rename it as yourstagename.mp3), 2 web-resolution photos (1 headshot, 1 full-length), and 1 high-resolution photo (minimum 300 dpi).
- If we do not receive your confirmation by Tuesday, October 6, 2026, your spot will be given to another applicant.
- If for any reason you cannot fulfill your confirmation to participate in the VBF, let us know as soon as possible. Failure to do so will result in your application not being considered in future VBF editions.
- You cannot perform in similar events 7 days before or 7 days after the VBF in Veneto.
- All correspondence between performers and VBF, including the application, is confidential and must not be shared with third parties before, during, or after the festival.
Expenses, payments and invoices
VBF does not cover any of your expenses related to the festival, including travel, hotel, or meals.
Choreography characteristics
- Nudity: full nudity is NOT allowed.
- Fire: fire is allowed in the theater.
- Aerial: aerial performances are allowed in the theater.
- Glitter: it is necessary to specify if the choreography includes the use of glitter or other sticky or slippery substances.
- No choreography changes: the choreography selected through the video must be performed without changes.
- Duration: the choreography must last a minimum of 3 minutes and a maximum of 6 minutes.
Video
The application must include a link to the video of the choreography you wish to perform. The quality of the video, lighting, or background is not important: we need to see your entire choreography without edits.
It is important that the video link is not password-protected and does not expire. We recommend easy-sharing sites like YouTube or Vimeo. Do not use sharing sites that require registration, like Facebook or Dropbox. Downloadable videos will not be considered.
Complimentary tickets
Complimentary tickets are not offered to companions, family members, or friends, who must purchase a ticket to attend the VBF.
Communications
- Correspondence will be sent via email, WhatsApp, or the dedicated Facebook page.
- For personal questions or concerns, please send an email to info@veniceburlesquefestival.it or, for emergencies, call 0039 3397337707.
Photos and videos during the VBF
By submitting the signed application form, you consent to being photographed and filmed during the VBF and that your image may be used to promote the festival.
Venues and technical information
Technical information regarding the stage, lighting, venue access, dressing room, etc., will be sent later.
Lighting requests will be considered if possible.
The theater is not always available, and VBF does not have additional equipment for choreographies. If you need extra equipment, you must request it immediately after confirmation.
No assistants or personal helpers are allowed unless authorized.
Rehearsals
Technical rehearsals for your choreography will be possible at the venue on the day of the VBF. Rehearsal times will be strict and subject to changes. Rehearsal schedules will be sent before the start of the VBF.
How to apply: Fill in the form following the instructions and send your application to info@veniceburlesquefestival.it as a fully completed PDF.
download the formContact
VENICE BURLESQUE FESTIVAL
WEB https://www.veniceburlesquefestival.it/
info@veniceburlesquefestival.it
To reserve your seat: avogaria@veniceburlesquefestival.it