61st Venice Biennale: Hybrid Performances, Geopolitics, and Indigenous Voices
The 61st Venice Biennale, running from May 9 to November 22, 2026, showcases 99 national pavilions that focus on hybrid performances. Among them, four female-led pavilions from Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Lithuania highlight body-focused art. Florentina Holzinger's 'Seaworld Venice' merges apocalyptic water themes with bodily fluids, while Aline Bouvy's 'La Merde' critiques societal control of bodies. Miet Warlop's 'It Never Ssst' forms an emotional space, and Eglė Budvytytė's 'Animism Sings Anarchy' delves into Neolithic archaeology. The Ukrainian pavilion, curated by Zhanna Kadyrova, reflects on her sculpture's evacuation, and Lubaina Himid tackles themes of exile in the British pavilion. Indigenous artists Sara Flores and Amina Agueznay also showcase their works, along with Soundwalk Collective's installation in the Vatican pavilion and Romania's exploration of Black Sea memories.
Key facts
- 61st Venice Biennale runs May 9–November 22, 2026
- 99 national pavilions participate
- Four female-led pavilions focus on hybrid performance: Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Lithuania
- Florentina Holzinger's Austrian pavilion 'Seaworld Venice' combines apocalyptic water and bodily fluids
- Aline Bouvy's Luxembourg pavilion 'La Merde' explores societal control through anthropomorphic excrement
- Miet Warlop's Belgian pavilion 'It Never Ssst' features six performers in an emotional arena
- Eglė Budvytytė's Lithuanian pavilion 'Animism Sings Anarchy' translates Neolithic matriarchal archaeology into sensory experience
- Zhanna Kadyrova's Ukrainian pavilion documents evacuation of sculpture 'Origami Deer' from Pokrovsk to Venice
- Lubaina Himid's British pavilion addresses exile and belonging
- Oriol Vilanova's Spanish pavilion 'Los Restos' uses postcard archive
- US pavilion features Alma Allen under Trump's America
- Sara Flores is first Indigenous artist for Peru, presents Shipibo-Konibo kené at Arsenale
- Amina Agueznay's Moroccan pavilion 'Asetta' reimagines Amazigh weaving with 150 artisans
- Vatican pavilion features Soundwalk Collective's 'The Ear Is the Eye of the Soul' curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist
- Romania presents 'Black Seas – Scores for the Sonic Eye' on Black Sea geo-ecological memory
- Poland's 'Liquid Tongues' by Daniel Kotowski and Bogna Burska uses sign language underwater
Entities
Artists
- Florentina Holzinger
- Aline Bouvy
- Miet Warlop
- Eglė Budvytytė
- Zhanna Kadyrova
- Lubaina Himid
- Oriol Vilanova
- Alma Allen
- Sara Flores
- Amina Agueznay
- Malika Benmoumen
- Daniel Kotowski
- Bogna Burska
- Anca Benera
- Arnold Estefán
- Hans Ulrich Obrist
- Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça
- Soundwalk Collective
Institutions
- Venice Biennale
- White Cube
- The Shipibo Conibo Center
- Bakish Mai Multiversity
- UNESCO
- Santa Maria Ausiliatrice
- Giardini
- Arsenale
- Beaux Arts Magazine
- Festival d'Automne
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Austria
- Luxembourg
- Belgium
- Lithuania
- Ukraine
- Pokrovsk
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- United States
- Peru
- Pucallpa
- Ucayali
- Amazon rainforest
- Morocco
- Casablanca
- Romania
- Black Sea
- Poland
- Vatican City
- Cannaregio
- Giudecca
- Berlin
- Paris
- New York