Venice Biennale 2026: Must-See Exhibitions Across the City

The 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, titled 'In Minor Keys,' opens May 9 as a tribute to its late curator Koyo Kouoh. National pavilions feature Khaled Sabsabi for Australia, Yto Barrada for France, and Alma Allen for the US. At Gallerie dell'Accademia, Marina Abramović becomes the only living female artist with a major solo show there; 'Transforming Energy' debuts May 6, integrating her work into the permanent collection. The Matthew Wong Foundation inaugurates its space at Palazzo Tiepolo Passi on May 6 with 'Interiors,' curated by John Cheim, showing 35 unseen works by the late Chinese Canadian artist. Palazzo Grassi hosts a Michael Armitage retrospective from March 29, while Punta della Dogana presents a Lorna Simpson survey with 50 works. Ca' Pesaro features Hernan Bas's new tourist-inspired paintings from May 7. Espaces Louis Vuitton Venezia presents Lu Yang's 'DOKU The Illusion' as part of the Hors-les-murs program. The Vincenzo de Cotiis Foundation stages 'Minimal Legends,' a dialogue among Minimalist works by John Chamberlain, Sol LeWitt, Larry Bell, Agnes Martin, Mark Rothko, Frank Stella, Richard Serra, Dan Flavin, Bridget Riley, and De Cotiis himself. Fondazione Dries Van Noten at Palazzo Pisani Moretta presents 'The Only Protest is Beauty,' blending fashion, design, and art.