The 24th edition of Jesolo Sand Nativity, the famous Sand Nativity Scene that enchanted Pope Francis, this year has as its theme “The Song of Free Women – Mary’s Magnificat, a revolution that continues“. It is a narrative told through 19 extraordinary sand sculptures that, starting with the figure of the young Mary—a woman before she was an icon—spans the centuries to encounter women who, like her, had the courage to make their own choices: Maysa Yousef, Mahsa Amini, Malala Yousafzai, Rita Levi-Montalcini, Franca Viola, the Italian women who won the right to vote in 1946, and Samantha Cristoforetti.
These are diverse stories, united by a profoundly human act: refusing to let others decide who they should be.
The exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday, November 28, 2026, to Sunday, February 7, 2027, inside a heated marquee located in the immediate vicinity of the Palazzo del Turismo and the Jesolo Ferris wheel in Piazza Brescia, with ample parking available nearby.
Since 2004, the event has funded various charitable projects through free donations from visitors; to date, more than 1 million and one hundred and twenty thousand euros have been raised and donated to humanitarian projects around the world.
Since 2002, the city of Jesolo has organized Sand Nativity, a majestic exhibition of sand sculptures created by the best artists from around the world. The importance of the event and its public appreciation have made it one of the most famous nativity scenes in Italy and abroad, so much so that it was hosted in St. Peter's Square for Christmas 2018 and in the square in front of the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi for Christmas 2023.
What characterizes the Jesolo event is not only the artistic quality of the works, but the contextualization of the Nativity on current themes and events.
The theme of the 2026 edition of Jesolo Sand Nativity is “The Song of Free Women – Mary’s Magnificat: A Revolution That Continues”.
Mary. The first woman. The first to make a choice.
Even before the Nativity scene told the story of a birth, there was a young woman named Mary, facing a choice that would change history forever.
Mary is not the fragile, silent figure often portrayed in our collective imagination. She is a free, courageous, and self-aware woman. She questions the angel before responding, chooses to say yes, faces scandal and uncertainty, and sets out to meet Elizabeth. In the Magnificat, she finds words of strength, dignity, and hope.
It is from this Mary—a woman before she is an icon—that the narrative of 19 extraordinary sand sculptures emerges.
The journey spans the centuries, encountering women who, like her, had the courage to make a choice: Maysa Yousef, Mahsa Amini, Malala Yousafzai, Rita Levi-Montalcini, Franca Viola, the Italian women who won the right to vote in 1946, and Samantha Cristoforetti.
Diverse stories, united by a profoundly human act: refusing to let others decide who they should be.
The journey ultimately returns to Mary and the Nativity, viewed through a fresh perspective. Three nativity scenes recount her story leading up to the birth itself, featuring the shepherds, the Holy Family, and the Magi.
It is an original, unprecedented nativity display that places Mary at the center—not as a symbol of fragility, but as a woman capable of making a revolutionary choice.
A single question runs through the entire exhibition: how much can the world be changed by the courage of a woman who makes a choice?
The works include a tactile sculpture designed for the visually impaired, ensuring the experience is accessible to everyone.
Dates and details
After the construction of the tensile structure, which will begin on Wednesday, October 14th, the sand "compaction" work will take place from October 19th to 29th. Meanwhile, from November 6th to 19th, international sculptors will create the majestic sand sculptures that will once again make the Jesolo Sand Nativity so exciting and extraordinary.
Opening: Friday, November 27, 2026
Consultancy and collaborations
Monastic Community of Marango – Caorle
Cultural association mons. G. Marcato – Jesolo
PERIOD AND OPENING HOURS OF THE EXHIBITION
From November 28, 2026, to February 7, 2027
Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays: open continuously from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM
From December 24, 2026, to January 6, 2027: open continuously from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM
Free admission (no reservation required).
GUIDED TOURS
From Monday to Friday (excluding the period from 24 December to 6 January), upon booking at the Tourist Information Office, e-mail: office@jesolo.it
Cost €30, maximum 30 people.
Duration 20 minutes.
Guided tours by private groups are not permitted on public holidays, as the high influx of public on such days makes these activities an impediment to the normal flow of visitors to the exhibition.
PARKING
Parking near the Sand Nativity Scene:
- Nativity Scene Parking: (Public Parking Brescia) via XIII Martiri, near Piazza Brescia in the Kursaal area.
- Parking under Burger King: Piazza Luigi Tenco – entrance viale XIII Martiri Jesolo
- Laguna Shopping Center Parking: Piazza Venezia
Bus Parking
- P 44 PICCHI – municipal Stadium square Armando Picchi (Bus places N. 43)
- P 1 “DRAGO” – Via Gramatica (Bus places 11)
ACCESSIBILITY
No architectural barriers.
Small pets are allowed inside the exhibition and must be kept on a leash and held in the arms.
SERVICES
Bookshop and external toilets near the exit accessible to all.
Other events in the city:
- Christmas Village from November 27 to January 6 – Piazza Mazzini and Aurora
- Ice Nativity Scene from December 5 to January 10 – Historic Center
The location of the Sand Nativity
