Five standout pavilions at the Venice Biennale 2026

Monocle highlights five national pavilions at the Venice Biennale 2026. Japan's pavilion features 200 weighted baby dolls (5.5kg each) by artist Ei Arakawa-Nash, which visitors can hold and even 'change diapers' to reveal hidden QR codes with poems. The British pavilion presents Lubaina Himid's bright, multi-canvas paintings depicting vocational scenes (architects, tailors, chefs) accompanied by a soundscape of a summer's day, exploring themes of migration and belonging. Syria's representative Sara Shamma reconstructed the tower tombs of Palmyra (1st–3rd century, destroyed in 2015) in Venice's Dorsoduro district, combining paintings with a soundscape and scent from historic Damascus perfume makers, framing the pavilion as a symbol of new beginnings. Latvia's pavilion in the Arsenale showcases sculptures by artist duo Mareunrol's that distort garment bags, rucksacks, and hangers, alongside archival footage from the Untamed Fashion Assembly (UFA) founded by Bruno Birmanis (1990–1999), documenting young Baltic designers amid political change. Latvia also leads the 'Death in Venice' campaign protesting Russia's inclusion in the Biennale.