Two twisted 1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)­ethyne ligands bridge two Cd²⁺ centers in the C₂-symmetric title complex, [Cd₂(NO₃)₄(μ-C₁₂H₈N₂)₂(H₂O)₂]. The bridging ligands arch across one another creating a `zigzag loop' molecular geometry. Two nitrate ions and a water mol­ecule complete the irregular seven-coordinate Cd-atom environment. The dihedral angles between the equivalent pyridyl ring planes of the two independent ligands are 67.2 (1)°. O_water—HO_nitrate hydrogen bonding creates two-dimensional layers parallel to the ab plane.