Hyperallergic's Guide to the 2026 Venice Biennale

festival-fair · 2026-04-24

The 2026 Venice Biennale, named 'In Minor Keys,' will feature 110 artists and collectives, celebrating curator Koyo Kouoh. The primary exhibition is curated by Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Marie Hélène Pereira, Rasha Salti, Siddhartha Mitter, and Rory Tsapayi. Judges for the Golden Lion will exclude national pavilions from nations whose leaders are facing charges by the ICC. Following the cancellation of Gabrielle Goliath's 'Elegy,' South Africa has withdrawn, while the work is now displayed at Chiesa di Sant'Antonin. Russia is returning to its pavilion at Giardini, and Israel will present at the Arsenale. Alma Allen represents the US, and Qatar is constructing a new permanent pavilion in Giardini. Newcomers include Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Nauru, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Vietnam, and El Salvador. Collateral events will showcase pieces by Goliath, Lorna Simpson, and Marina Abramović.

Key facts

The 2026 Venice Biennale main exhibition is titled 'In Minor Keys' and features 110 artists and collectives.
Curator Koyo Kouoh died in 2025; her team realized the exhibition.
Golden Lion judges will not consider pavilions of countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the ICC.
South Africa withdrew after canceling Gabrielle Goliath's 'Elegy' about Gaza victims; it now shows at Chiesa di Sant'Antonin.
Russia returns to its Giardini pavilion; Israel exhibits at the Arsenale due to Giardini renovation.
The US is represented by Alma Allen; Barbara Chase-Riboud declined.
Qatar will build a new permanent pavilion in the Giardini, the first in decades.
First-time participants: Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Nauru, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Vietnam, El Salvador.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

Hyperallergic
Venice Biennale
Giardini
Arsenale
Chiesa di Sant'Antonin
South African Pavilion
United States Pavilion
Grand Central Art Galleries
Museum of Modern Art
Guggenheim Foundation
Qatar Museums
Pinault Foundation
Punta della Dogana
Palazzo Grassi
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ca' Pesaro
Prada Foundation
Gallerie Accademia
Palestine Museum
British Council
Creative Australia
National Gallery of Canada
Institut français
ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen)
Mondriaan Fonds
Japan Foundation
IKSV (İstanbul Kültür Sanat Vakfı)
Ukrainian Pavilion
Financial Times
Fondazione Prada
Artribune
Biennale di Venezia
Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia
Orto Botanico di Padova
Kew Gardens
Museo Storico Navale
Fondaco Marcello
Palazzo Franchetti
Lithuanian Pavilion
Estonian Pavilion
Irish Pavilion
Bvlgari Pavilion
Ibraaz
Ibraaz Publishing
Lofoten International Art Festival (LIAF)
Museo delle Civiltà
Grotta Scaloria
Kerlin Gallery
D_P_S
CCA

Locations

Venice
Italy
Giardini
Arsenale
Castello
Chiesa di Sant'Antonin
Punta della Dogana
Palazzo Grassi
Ca' Pesaro
Gallerie Accademia
South Africa
Russia
Israel
United States
Qatar
China
India
Argentina
Mexico
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Ukraine
Iran
Venezuela
Australia
Canada
Great Britain
France
Germany
Brazil
Uruguay
Egypt
Japan
Netherlands
Austria
Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Nauru
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Vietnam
El Salvador
Palestine
Gaza
São Paulo
Brasil
Cannaregio
Dorsoduro
San Servolo
Greece
Belgium
Montreal
Berlin
Poland
Timor-Leste
Kazakhstan
Portugal
Johannesburg
Cape Town
Paris
Amsterdam
London
Padua
Gehrenseestraße
Berlin East
Lebanon
Sudan
Namibia
Haiti
Lofoten
Norway
Spazio Esedra
Salizada S. Antonin, 3477, 30122 Venice
Fucina del Futuro, Calle S. Lorenzo 5063/B, 30122 Venice
Calle S. Domenico, 1285, 30122 Venice
Campo de la Tana, 2169, 30122 Venice
Calle Giazzo, 30122 Venice

Sources

Berlin Art Link — 2026-05-14
Artribune — 2026-05-08
Hyperallergic — 2026-04-23