Pussy Riot protest temporarily shuts Russian pavilion at Venice Biennale
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 6
Pussy Riot protest temporarily shuts Russian pavilion at Venice Biennale
12 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 6
About 40 activists, including Femen members led by Nadya Tolokonnikova, lit flares and clashed with police outside the pavilion in Venice; no arrests were made.
The group denounced Russia's presence as propaganda linked to the war in Ukraine, while the European Commission reportedly warned Italy and organisers that participation could breach EU sanctions.
The action deepened a politically charged biennale already hit by the jury's mass resignation and protests over Israel's pavilion, with further demonstrations expected.
Banned as 'extremists' at home, can Pussy Riot's provocative art in Venice actually challenge Putin's grip on power in Russia?
With its jury resigned and awards canceled, has the Venice Biennale lost its artistic soul by platforming an aggressor state?
Venice Biennale 2026 Crisis: Jury Resignation, EU Funding Cut, and the Fallout from the Russian Pavilion Protest
Overview
In May 2026, the Venice Biennale's decision to readmit Russian artists sparked a major protest by Pussy Riot and FEMEN at the Russian pavilion, where activists disrupted the opening with smoke flares and chants condemning Russia's war in Ukraine. This protest, combined with the international jury's resignation over Russia and Israel's participation, led to intense political pressure from the EU and Italian government, including a €2.3 million funding cut and inspections. As a result, the Russian pavilion was closed to the public, and the Biennale replaced its traditional awards with public voting. These events exposed deep tensions between artistic freedom and political responsibility, challenging the future of national pavilions amid global conflicts.