Why are activists protesting against Jeff Bezos’s Venice wedding?

Billionaire Jeff Bezos is marrying Lauren Sanchez, a former TV journalist, in a glitzy multi-day event in Venice.

While city officials haven’t confirmed the wedding details, Italian media has reported that it will be a three-day affair between Tuesday and Thursday this week.

The wedding party will reportedly take over the whole island of San Giorgio opposite St Mark’s Square – but the location of the ceremony itself remains private.

The guest list is rumoured to include Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and Ivanka Trump, as well as pop star Katy Perry, who joined Ms Sanchez in the all-female celebrity crew that travelled to space in April.

They and other celebrity guests such as Leonardo Dicaprio and Eva Longoria are set to join the couple for parties on the Amazon owner’s super yacht, worth about $500m (£371m), which will dock in the port of Venice for the wedding, Sky TG24 in Italy reports.

But not everyone in the city is excited.

Why are there protests?

Protesters do not have an issue with the marriage itself but with what they say is the “privatisation” and “exploitation” of the city.

“He is basically going to treat the whole city as a private ballroom, as a private event area, as if the citizens are not there,” said Alice Bazzoli, an activist with No Space for Bezos.

Members of the group have told Sky News that the event will close parts of the city and make it difficult for locals to get around, as well as posing environmental concerns with the use of yachts in the canals.

“This is not what Venice needs. This is not what a city that is already suffering from overtourism needs,” Federica Toninelli, another activist associated with No Space for Bezos, said.

The city has long struggled with high tourism numbers.

Millions come to see the World Heritage Site for its medieval architecture, crammed into a picturesque canal network.

However, this pushes up the cost of living for locals and tends to create only low-paid temporary employment.

“It’s going to bring money, yes, but we are not going to see any money,” said Ms Toninelli.

The protests are also linked to wider issues around affordable housing and a dwindling local population in Venice’s historic centre.

“Do we want our city even more invaded by tourists, by oligarchs, and people who buy and privatise the city, or do we want services, jobs, health services, schools, universities? Do we want to live in the city like normal people, or sell it to the best offer?” Ms Bazzoli added

What protests are planned?

Members of No Space for Bezos are planning to disrupt celebrations this week.

They unfurled a massive banner on 12 June from the bell tower of the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica with Bezos’s name crossed out.

They are planning another demonstration on 28 June where they will block guests from arriving at a party by blocking the canals with boats and their bodies, adding that it will be peaceful.

“We want to take back our city that we are seeing constantly being privatised and taken away from us,” Ms Toninelli told Sky News.

What has the response been to the protests?

The mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has said he is “honoured” that the city is hosting the event – “Once again Venice proves to be a world stage.”

The city of Venice has previously denied that the event would disrupt locals, saying water taxi services would run normally and that only 200 guests had been invited.

“Venice is used to being the stage for events and shows every week, without significant impacts,” a statement said, citing G20 and G7 summits, the Architecture and Cinema Biennales, as well as private events.

It added that the city has previous experience of hosting big events successfully.

Mr Bezos has been contacted for comment.

So what other events has the cited hosted?

George and Amal Clooney famously got married there in 2014.

The actor arrived at his ceremony at the Aman Grande Canal Hotel on a boat, alongside guests including Matt Damon and model Cindy Crawford.

The city also hosted world leaders for the 2021 G20 summit, as well as its annual Venice Film Festival.

How does Venice place limits on tourists?

Venice has been struggling with the impacts of overtourism.

There were about 50,000 people living in the historic city centre in 2023 – and about 4.9 million tourist arrivals – according to the data gathering website Statista.

In 2024, it became the first city in the world to introduce a payment system for tourists, with officials carrying out random checks to make sure people beyond entry points have a QR code.

As it stands, those visiting between April and July for a day trip pay a standard fee of €5, unless they have booked less than four days before their visit, in which case they must pay double.

The city has also put in place a size limit of 25 people for tourist groups to reduce crowds.

Where else have there been tourist protests?

Venice isn’t the only European city where locals are frustrated with tourist numbers.

Protesters in Barcelona sprayed tourists with water guns as part of demonstrations recently over the number of visitors.

Anti-tourism activists have also staged protests in other popular holiday destinations across Spain, including Palma, Malaga and the Canary Islands, claiming that visitors drive up housing costs and lead to residents being unable to afford to live in city centres.