As Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez prepare for a private wedding in Venice from June 24-26, locals and activists escalate protests against what they call the “Disneyfication” of the fragile World Heritage city.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez are reportedly set to marry in Venice, Italy, during a three-day celebration from June 24 to 26. While the exact details of the wedding remain under tight wraps, the billionaire’s presence has already stirred deep anger among Venetian locals, environmental activists, and preservationists who fear that another ultra-elite event will damage the already overburdened World Heritage site. Campaigners under the banner “No Space for Bezos” have launched widespread protests, accusing the city of enabling the commercialization and “Disneyfication” of Venice.
Protests Erupt Ahead of Bezos-Sánchez Wedding
Public outrage intensified after Venice’s millionaire mayor Luigi Brugnaro confirmed in March that the couple would be holding their wedding in the historic city. Activists responded with bold action—hanging a banner reading “No Bezos” from the bell tower of the San Giorgio Basilica on the island of San Giorgio, one of the rumored venues for the ceremony.
“Bezos will never get to the Misericordia,” vowed protest organizer Federica Toninello, referencing La Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a 16th-century former charity building-turned-event hall.
“We will line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with lifesavers, dinghies, and our boats.”
Another protestor, Na Haby Stella Faye, rallied fellow activists with a direct call:
“We have a chance to disrupt a ten million dollar wedding – let’s do it.”
Fears of Over-Tourism and Urban Decay
For many residents, the Bezos-Sánchez wedding has become a symbol of Venice’s ongoing struggle with mass tourism, private privilege, and cultural erosion. The city, which already battles daily crowds and cruise ship influx, is now bracing for the pressures of an elite guest list and global media attention.
“This wedding is causing much friction, especially because it is happening at a time when Venice, already invaded by uncontrolled tourism, is completely worn out,” said Giovanni Andrea Martini, an opposition city councillor, speaking to The Guardian.
“It won’t bring any benefit to ordinary Venetians. It’s just going to cause inconvenience.”
Martini labeled the wedding an “extreme case of the Disneyfication of Venice”, accusing the local administration of prioritizing image over community wellbeing.
Mayor Dismisses Backlash as “Shameful”
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, however, dismissed the protests, assuring the public that the wedding would have “no disruption whatsoever.”
“Only 200 guests will have been invited and therefore it will be easy for Venice to accommodate such an event,” the Municipality of Venice said in a statement.
Brugnaro further called the protest movement “shameful”, insisting that residents and visitors would not be affected.
Despite these assurances, tensions remain high, especially as activists highlight that ordinary citizens continue to bear the costs of such high-profile events, from blocked streets to increased surveillance and environmental strain.
Hearsay and Headlines Amid Secrecy
Though official details of the Bezos-Sánchez wedding are scarce, speculation has flooded the media about potential venues, celebrity guest lists, high-end hotel bookings, and the bride’s designer dress. The secretive nature of the event has only intensified public curiosity—and resentment.
A City at a Crossroads
The controversy surrounding Bezos’ wedding underscores a larger crisis facing Venice: how to preserve its cultural soul and community in the face of elite tourism, commercialization, and overexposure.
While the wedding may be temporary, critics argue that its impact—and the symbolism it carries—could leave a lasting mark on a city already struggling to balance heritage with hospitality.