Pussy Riot, fierce pussy, and mass protests mark a turbulent 2026 Venice Biennale
The 61st Venice Biennale, named "In Minor Keys" and curated posthumously by Koyo Kouoh, commenced on May 6 amid significant political unrest. Outside the Russian Pavilion, Pussy Riot (Nadya Tolokonnikova) and Femen staged protests against Russia's involvement. In April, the international jury resigned, declining to evaluate nations whose leaders face ICC arrest warrants, including Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin. The U.S. Pavilion, under the curation of Jenni Parido, highlighted sculptor Alma Allen's work. In the German Pavilion, curated by Kathleen Reinhardt, "Ruin" by Sung Tieu and Henrike Naumann was featured. Additionally, the Austrian Pavilion showcased "Seaworld Venice" by Florentina Holzinger. A large protest against Israel's participation led to the Arsenale's closure, with over 100 artists withdrawing from the visitors' prize.
Key facts
- Pussy Riot and Femen protested Russia's return to the Biennale on May 6, 2026.
- The international jury resigned in April 2026, refusing to consider countries with ICC-indicted leaders.
- Koyo Kouoh's exhibition 'In Minor Keys' was realized posthumously after her death in 2025.
- The German Pavilion's 'Ruin' by Sung Tieu and Henrike Naumann was the strongest presentation in the Giardini.
- fierce pussy installed a deconstructed Palestinian flag in the Biglietteria Scarpa.
- A mass action protesting Israel's participation shut down the Arsenale; Austria and Belgium closed their pavilions.
- Over 100 artists withdrew from the visitors' prize in protest.
- The U.S. Pavilion featured Alma Allen, whose presentation was widely criticized as anodyne.
Entities
Artists
- Nadya Tolokonnikova
- Alma Allen
- Sung Tieu
- Henrike Naumann
- Florentina Holzinger
- Joy Episalla
- Carrie Yamaoka
- Zoe Leonard
- Jo-ey Tang
- Koyo Kouoh
- Meriem Bennani
- Orian Barki
- Khaled Sabsabi
- Cauleen Smith
- Tabita Rezaire
- Werewere Liking
- Ranti Bam
- Carrie Schneider
- Bracha L. Ettinger
- Bogna Burska
- Daniel Kotowski
- Andreas Angelidakis
- Ryan Coyne
- Matthew Taylor
- Jenni Parido
- Geert Bruloot
- Dries Van Noten
- Kathleen Reinhardt
- Chiara Pisani
- Steven Shearer
- Phil Ochs
- Zhanna Kadyrova
- Belu-Simion Fainaru
- Anastassija Karnejewa
- Derrick Adams
- Lubaina Himid
- Alfredo Jaar
- Marie Hélène Pereira
- Rasha Salti
- Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo
- Rory Tsapayi
- Siddhartha Mitter
- Tetyana Berezhna
- Hlib Stryzhko
- Nataliya Gumenyuk
- Tacita Dean
- Janet Cardiff
- George Bures Miller
- Nikita Kadan
- Gabrielle Goliath
- Kirill Savchenkov
- Avital Bar-Shay
- Sorin Heller
- Abbas Akhavan
- Pussy Riot
- Solange Farkas
- Nabil Nahas
- FEMEN
Institutions
- La Biennale di Venezia
- Pussy Riot
- Femen
- American Arts Conservancy
- U.S. Pavilion
- Russian Pavilion
- German Pavilion
- Austrian Pavilion
- Belgian Pavilion
- Polish Pavilion
- Greek Pavilion
- Czech and Slovak Pavilion
- fierce pussy
- Fondazione Dries Van Noten
- Hotel Metropole
- St. Regis Venice
- Aman Venice
- Orient Express
- Quattro Gatti
- International Criminal Court
- CULTURED
- Venice Biennale
- Corriere della Sera
- Welt
- Ansa
- Rostec
- Ukrainian Pavilion
- Iranian Pavilion
- Israeli Pavilion
- British Pavilion
- Gagosian
- In Minor Keys
- The Guardian
- Italian Ministry of Culture
- Giardini
- Arsenale
- European Commission
- Italy's Culture Ministry
- Biennale Foundation
- Victor Pinchuk Foundation
- PinchukArtCentre
- Palazzo Contarini Polignac
- South Africa's Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
- Art Not Genocide Alliance
- Artlyst
- Bienal de Veneza
- FEMEN
- Leão de Ouro
- Biennale di Venezia
- European Union
- France 24
- Italian government
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- Arsenale
- Russian Pavilion
- U.S. Pavilion
- German Pavilion
- Austrian Pavilion
- Belgian Pavilion
- Polish Pavilion
- Greek Pavilion
- Czech and Slovak Pavilion
- Biglietteria Scarpa
- Campo Manin
- Palazzo Nervi Scattolin
- Palazzo Pisani Moretta
- Grand Canal
- Hotel Metropole
- St. Regis Venice
- Aman Venice
- Umbria
- New York
- East Berlin
- Germany
- Tibet
- Ukraine
- Israel
- Palestine
- Russia
- United States
- Pokrovsk
- Donetsk
- Berlin
- Iran
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- Cameroon
- Switzerland
- France
- Chile
- South Africa
- Canada
- Belgium
- Netherlands
- Austria
- Japan
- Macedonia
- South Korea
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- Egypt
- Finland
- Luxembourg
- Palazzo Contarini Polignac
- Castello
- Amazon
- Gaza
- Sudan
- Namibia
- Rwanda
- Veneza
- Ucrânia
- Estados Unidos
- Áustria
- África do Sul
- Rome
- Brussels
- Moscow