ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Artribune’s Top and Flop of the 2026 Venice Biennale

exhibition · 2026-05-09

The 61st Venice Biennale, titled 'In Minor Keys' and directed by Koyo Kouoh, opened amid the curator's death, diplomatic tensions over Russia and Israel, and a jury resignation that turned the Golden Lions into a public vote. Despite this, the Biennale succeeds by avoiding moralistic pedagogy. With a record 100 national participations (up from 86 in 2024), the event expands beyond Giardini and Arsenale to Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, Giudecca, and San Servolo. Artribune highlights tops: Pietrangelo Buttafuoco's presidential leadership; Fondazione Prada's 'Helter Skelter: Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince' curated by Nancy Spector; tech-focused shows like 'STRANGE RULES' at Palazzo Diedo and 'RAGE BAIT' by Eva & Franco Mattes; Tino Sehgal's sensual performance 'The Kiss' at AMA Venezia; Erwin Wurm's monographic at Museo Fortuny; Palestine protests; the Holy See Pavilion's 'L'orecchio è l'occhio dell'anima' at Giardino dei Carmelitani Scalzi; and a video art resurgence. Flops include weak national pavilions from India, China, and the US; rigid museum hours; the spectacle of Banksy's 'Migrant Child'; and the overly viral aesthetics of the Austrian and Japanese pavilions.

Key facts

  • 61st Venice Biennale runs until November 22, 2026.
  • Directed by Koyo Kouoh, titled 'In Minor Keys'.
  • Record 100 national participations.
  • Golden Lions awarded by public vote after jury resignation.
  • Top picks include Fondazione Prada's 'Helter Skelter' and Tino Sehgal's 'The Kiss'.
  • Flops include weak pavilions from India, China, and the US.
  • Holy See Pavilion features works by Patti Smith, Brian Eno, Meredith Monk.
  • Protests for Palestine occurred during the opening week.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Biennale di Venezia
  • Fondazione Prada
  • Palazzo Diedo
  • AMA Venezia
  • Museo Fortuny
  • Musei Civici di Venezia
  • MUVEC di Mestre
  • Museo Correr
  • Ca' Pesaro
  • Palazzo Marin
  • Contemporary Forces
  • Fondazione In Between Art Film
  • Complesso dell'Ospedaletto
  • Holy See Pavilion
  • Giardino dei Carmelitani Scalzi
  • Soundwalk Collective
  • Artribune
  • Venice Biennale
  • Monopol
  • Detektor.FM
  • German Pavilion
  • Austrian Pavilion
  • Russian Pavilion
  • Israeli Pavilion
  • United States Pavilion
  • Saudi Pavilion
  • Palazzo Grassi
  • Magazzini del Sale
  • Palazzo Tiepolo Passi
  • Fondazione Querini Stampalia
  • Scuola Dalmata
  • Frari
  • Grand Canal
  • Giardini
  • Arsenale
  • Save Venice
  • Christie's International Real Estate
  • Ca' Dario
  • Rostec
  • David Zwirner
  • Perrotin
  • Fondation Hartung Bergman
  • Matthew Wong Foundation
  • Artists Rights Society
  • The Atlantic
  • La Biennale di Venezia
  • Gagosian
  • European Commission
  • Pussy Riot
  • FEMEN
  • Bulgari
  • Museo Storico Navale
  • Joystick
  • Taipei Fine Arts Museum
  • Espace Louis Vuitton Venezia
  • Lisson Gallery
  • European Union
  • Gallerie dell'Accademia
  • Fondazione Giorgio Cini
  • National Portrait Gallery
  • Palazzo Grimani
  • Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel
  • SMAC
  • Parasol Unit
  • Palazzo Franchetti
  • Fondazione Dries van Noten
  • Lehmann Maupin
  • Victoria Miro
  • Dries Van Noten Foundation
  • Palazzo Pisani Moretti
  • Indian Pavilion
  • Azerbaijan Pavilion
  • Greek Pavilion
  • Japanese Pavilion
  • Italian Ministry of Culture
  • PNC
  • PNRR
  • Labicis
  • Global Sumud Flotilla
  • Vogue

Locations

  • Venice
  • Italy
  • Giardini
  • Arsenale
  • Cannaregio
  • Castello
  • Dorsoduro
  • Giudecca
  • San Servolo
  • Ca' Corner della Regina
  • Palazzo Diedo
  • Palazzo Franchetti
  • Museo Fortuny
  • MUVEC di Mestre
  • Museo Correr
  • Ca' Pesaro
  • Palazzo Marin
  • Giardino dei Carmelitani Scalzi
  • Venezia Santa Lucia station
  • Basilea
  • Switzerland
  • Palazzo Dries Van Noten
  • Palazzo Grassi
  • Magazzini del Sale
  • Palazzo Tiepolo Passi
  • Fondazione Querini Stampalia
  • Scuola Dalmata
  • Frari
  • Grand Canal
  • Ca' Dario
  • Moscow
  • Russia
  • Cameroon
  • Dakar
  • Senegal
  • Kenya
  • India
  • South Africa
  • Los Angeles
  • United States
  • Utah
  • Mexico
  • Palm Beach
  • Santa Barbara
  • Syria
  • Palestine
  • Lebanon
  • Dresden
  • Germany
  • Ukraine
  • Israel
  • Iran
  • France
  • Belgium
  • Netherlands
  • Austria
  • South Korea
  • Japan
  • Greece
  • Vatican
  • Luxembourg
  • New Zealand
  • Dominican Republic
  • Uruguay
  • Australia
  • Aalsmeer
  • Campo Santa Maria Formosa
  • Palazzo Manfrin
  • Korea
  • Denmark
  • Great Britain
  • UAE
  • Somalia
  • Kosovo
  • DR Congo
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Giardino Mistico dei Carmelitani Scalzi
  • Belgrade
  • Central Asia
  • Giardini della Biennale
  • Venice Lagoon
  • Austrian Pavilion
  • Luxembourg Pavilion
  • Italian Pavilion
  • Central Pavilion
  • Riva degli Schiavoni
  • Gaza
  • Rome
  • Vienna
  • Scotland
  • Ghana
  • Piacentina

Sources

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