Artribune’s Top and Flop of the 2026 Venice Biennale

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.