Hong Kong Museum of Art Takes Over Venice Biennale Pavilion from M+ for 2026

The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMOA) will now lead Hong Kong's exhibition at the 2026 Venice Biennale, replacing M+ after thirteen years. This change was directed by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, a government-appointed body. Unlike previous presentations since 2009 that featured single artists, the 2026 pavilion will include multiple artists selected from a pool of approximately 200 candidates. These artists will be drawn from those who have received commissions from government-run museums, alongside nominees from the council and tertiary institutions. Maria Mok Kar-wing, director of HKMOA, clarified that proposals do not need to focus on Chinese traditional culture. The selection process represents a significant shift from M+'s method, which involved a working group appointed by the council jointly deciding on artists and curators. The exhibition's theme is 'Very Hong Kong,' though the exact number of participating artists remains unannounced. A correction to this information was issued on 16 April 2025, confirming details about M+'s outgoing selection process. M+ is Hong Kong's museum of visual culture located in West Kowloon.