Venice Biennale opens amid turmoil and stages provocative performances
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 8
Venice Biennale opens amid turmoil and stages provocative performances
8 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 8
The 2026 edition in Venice follows curator Koyo Kouoh's death, jury and participant withdrawals, and includes Austria's pavilion featuring a performer immersed in processed visitors' urine.
A five-person team completed Kouoh's "In Minor Keys" show, but the main exhibition is portrayed as disjointed, while several national pavilions and unofficial shows deliver sharper political and artistic impact.
Protests over Israel and Russia, strikes, cancellations and funding losses deepened the disruption, underscoring how global conflict and ideological division overshadowed the world's biggest art exhibition.
Did a curator’s tragic death doom the world's most famous art exhibition before it even opened?
Has the Venice Biennale's true soul fled its official venues for the city's streets and churches?
61st Venice Biennale Marred by 24-Hour Strike, Jury Resignation, and Iran’s Withdrawal Amid Geopolitical Turmoil
Overview
The 2026 Venice Biennale was deeply disrupted by geopolitical conflicts and political protests. Israel's participation sparked a major strike and protests, leading to the closure of many national pavilions and heightened security, while Russia's pavilion faced protests and early closure due to EU funding withdrawal. The international jury resigned after excluding artists from countries with ICC charges, prompting a shift to public voting that reinstated Israel and Russia. Iran withdrew shortly before opening amid regional tensions and internal crises. Despite curator Koyo Kouoh's vision for reflection and healing, the Biennale became a contested space where art and global conflicts collided, exposing the challenges of maintaining neutrality amid intense political pressures.