Jeff Bezos unwelcome in Venice, his luxury yacht wedding plan faces protest

Jeff Bezos’ upcoming wedding to Lauren Sánchez in Venice has ignited fierce protests from local activists who accuse the billionaire of turning their historic city into a private playground for the ultra-wealthy. The multi-day celebration, set to take place on the exclusive island of San Giorgio from Monday to Thursday this week, is expected to attract a host of celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger, Katy Perry, and Ivanka Trump. However, the event has also become a flashpoint for ongoing tensions between Venice’s residents and the growing influence of tourism and luxury events.

The activist group “No Space for Bezos” has organized demonstrations aimed at disrupting the wedding festivities. On June 12, protesters unfurled a massive banner with Bezos’s name crossed out from the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore basilica. They plan further actions, including blocking canals and narrow streets to hinder guests’ access. Federica Toninelli, spokesperson for the group, said, “We want to take back our city that we are seeing constantly being privatized and taken away from us.”

Protesters emphasize that their opposition is not to Bezos’ marriage itself but to the broader issue of Venice’s transformation. They argue that events like this exacerbate problems such as rising living costs, dwindling affordable housing, and environmental damage caused by superyachts. Activist Alice Bazzoli stated, “He is basically going to treat the whole city as a private ballroom, as if the citizens are not there.”


Venice’s historic center is home to just 50,000 residents but receives nearly 5 million tourists annually. The city has introduced measures like tourist entry fees and limits on group sizes to combat overtourism, but locals say these efforts are insufficient to protect their way of life.

City officials, however, have welcomed the event. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro described himself as “honoured” to host the wedding and dismissed protests as the actions of a vocal minority. As Bezos’ $500 million superyacht docks in the lagoon and celebrities arrive, the protests highlight a deeper conflict: who truly owns Venice—the global elite or its longtime residents?