ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Venice Biennale 2026: Koyo Kouoh Curates Amid Geopolitical Fracture

festival-fair · 2026-05-16

The 61st edition of the Venice Biennale, titled 'In Minor Keys,' will be curated by Koyo Kouoh, director of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. Set to open in 2026, the exhibition arrives at a time of global grief and geopolitical tension, focusing on marginalized voices and places. The India Pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Culture, will feature works by artists including Atul Dodiya, Shilpa Gupta, and Nalini Malani, curated by Kamini Sawhney. The Biennale's emphasis on underrepresented narratives is seen as strikingly timely amid current world conflicts.

Key facts

  • The 61st Venice Biennale is titled 'In Minor Keys'.
  • Koyo Kouoh is the curator of the 2026 edition.
  • Kouoh is the director of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.
  • The Biennale focuses on marginalized voices and places.
  • The India Pavilion will feature Atul Dodiya, Shilpa Gupta, and Nalini Malani.
  • Kamini Sawhney is the curator of the India Pavilion.
  • The India Pavilion is organized by the Ministry of Culture.
  • The 2026 Biennale is set in a context of geopolitical fracture and grief.

Entities

Artists

  • Koyo Kouoh
  • Atul Dodiya
  • Shilpa Gupta
  • Nalini Malani
  • Kamini Sawhney

Institutions

  • Venice Biennale
  • Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
  • India Pavilion
  • Ministry of Culture

Locations

  • Venice
  • Italy

Sources