Biennale Arte 2026: Seven Must-See Pavilions at the Giardini
The 2026 Venice Biennale commenced amid demonstrations by ANGA – Art Not Genocide Alliance, who displayed 'Free Palestine' banners in the Giardini. Visitors are welcomed by a deer sculpture created by Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova, while the Israel Pavilion has its windows obscured. The Russia Pavilion, which is heavily policed, will be accessible for only a limited duration. Oriol Villanova's postcard installation is featured in the Spanish Pavilion. Miet Warlop presents 'IT NEVER SSST' in the Belgian Pavilion. The Japanese Pavilion, designed by Ei Arakawa-Nash, focuses on the care of 200 baby dolls, reflecting on parenthood and Japan's declining birth rate. The German Pavilion, titled 'Ruin', showcases works by Henrike Naumann and Sung Tieu, while the Austrian Pavilion includes performances by Florentina Holzinger. Additionally, the Qatar Pavilion displays pieces by Sophia Al-Maria and others, and the Polish Pavilion features 'Liquid Tongues' by Bogna Burska and Daniel Kotowski.
Key facts
- ANGA – Art Not Genocide Alliance protested at the Biennale with 'Free Palestine' banners.
- Zhanna Kadyrova's deer sculpture stands at the Giardini entrance.
- Israel Pavilion windows are covered with opaque restoration cloths.
- Russia Pavilion is surrounded by police and will open only a few days.
- Oriol Villanova's Spanish Pavilion installation uses thousands of postcards from his personal archive.
- Miet Warlop's 'IT NEVER SSST' for the Belgian Pavilion involves performers passing plaster tiles to percussion.
- Ei Arakawa-Nash's Japanese Pavilion offers 200 baby dolls for visitors to care for, each with an oracular poem.
- Japan's birth rate in 2025 was 705,809, a 2.1% decrease from 2024.
- German Pavilion 'Ruin' features Sung Tieu's exterior mosaic of three million tiles referencing the Rostock-Lichtenhagen pogrom.
- Henrike Naumann's interior for the German Pavilion uses mint-green spaces evoking Soviet barracks.
- Florentina Holzinger's Austrian Pavilion includes a woman suspended inside a bell recovered from the lagoon.
- Holzinger's previous opera 'Sancta' caused 18 spectators to require medical treatment for nausea.
- Qatar Pavilion by Rirkrit Tiravanija is a temporary structure inspired by the majlis.
- Polish Pavilion 'Liquid Tongues' by Bogna Burska and Daniel Kotowski is an immersive audiovisual environment.
- Polish Pavilion was selected through a public competition and approved by the Polish Ministry of Culture.
Entities
Artists
- Zhanna Kadyrova
- Oriol Villanova
- Miet Warlop
- Ei Arakawa-Nash
- Henrike Naumann
- Sung Tieu
- Florentina Holzinger
- Sophia Al-Maria
- Tarek Atoui
- Alia Farid
- Fadi Kattan
- Bogna Burska
- Daniel Kotowski
- Rirkrit Tiravanija
- Lina Ghotmeh
Institutions
- ANGA – Art Not Genocide Alliance
- Biennale Arte 2026
- Spanish Pavilion
- Belgian Pavilion
- Japanese Pavilion
- German Pavilion
- Austrian Pavilion
- Qatar Pavilion
- Polish Pavilion
- Zachęta – Galleria Nazionale d'Arte
- Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
- Tate Modern
- Teatro di Stato del Meclemburgo
- Opera di Stato di Stoccarda
- exibart.com
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- Spain
- Manresa
- Belgium
- Torhout
- Japan
- Germany
- Rostock-Lichtenhagen
- Austria
- Vienna
- Qatar
- Poland
- London
- United Kingdom
- Schwerin
- Stuttgart
Sources
- Exibart —