Venice Biennale 2026: Naked Jetskiers, Giant Bells, and a Celebrity Seagull
The 61st Venice Biennale, which will continue until November 22, showcases artists from 99 nations. Among the standout pieces is Zhanna Kadyrova's 'Security Guarantees,' located at the Giardini entrance, along with an 'Origami Deer' sculpture that was relocated from Pokrovsk, Ukraine in 2024. The Egyptian pavilion features Armen Agop's 'Silence Pavilion,' while the Polish pavilion presents 'Liquid Tongues' by Bogna Burska and Daniel Kotowski. A seagull outside the Polish pavilion gained fame, thanks to producer Anna Kowalska's protection. The Holy See pavilion includes contributions from Patti Smith, Jim Jarmusch, Brian Eno, and FKA twigs, and Anish Kapoor displays 'At the Edge of the World' at Palazzo Manfrin. Noteworthy works at the US pavilion include Gabrielle Goliath's 'Elegy' and Alma Allen's 'Not Yet Titled.'
Key facts
- 61st Venice Biennale runs until November 22
- Participants from 99 countries
- Zhanna Kadyrova's 'Security Guarantees' at Giardini entrance
- Origami Deer sculpture evacuated from Pokrovsk, Ukraine in 2024
- Egyptian pavilion features Armen Agop's 'Silence Pavilion'
- Polish pavilion screens 'Liquid Tongues' by Burska and Kotowski
- Seagull nests outside Polish pavilion, protected by fence
- Holy See pavilion curated by Obrist and Vickers with Soundwalk Collective
- Japanese pavilion: Ei Arakawa-Nash's 'Grass Babies, Moon Babies'
- Austrian pavilion: Florentina Holzinger's 'Seaworld Venice' with naked performers and jetski
- Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst at Palazzo Diedo with Michael Levin
- Anish Kapoor exhibits 'At the Edge of the World' at Palazzo Manfrin
- Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska collaborate at British pavilion
- Lydia Ourahmane's 'Rock Soup' at Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation
- Gabrielle Goliath's 'Elegy' at Chiesa di Sant'Antonin after being barred from representing South Africa
- Miet Warlop represents Belgium with 'IT NEVER SSST'
- Andreas Angelidakis presents 'Escape Room' at Greek pavilion
- Oriol Vilanova's 'Los Restos' at Spanish pavilion with thousands of postcards
- Arthur Jafa at Fondazione Prada
- Alma Allen's 'Not Yet Titled' at US pavilion
- Kaloki Nyamai at Arsenale
- Daria Koltsova's work with Ukrainian uniforms displayed May 5-9 near Arsenale
- Pussy Riot protest outside Russia pavilion
Entities
Artists
- Zhanna Kadyrova
- Armen Agop
- Bogna Burska
- Daniel Kotowski
- Hans Ulrich Obrist
- Ben Vickers
- Patti Smith
- Jim Jarmusch
- Brian Eno
- FKA twigs
- Ei Arakawa-Nash
- Florentina Holzinger
- Holly Herndon
- Mat Dryhurst
- Michael Levin
- Anish Kapoor
- Lubaina Himid
- Magda Stawarska
- Lydia Ourahmane
- Gabrielle Goliath
- Miet Warlop
- Andreas Angelidakis
- Oriol Vilanova
- Arthur Jafa
- Alma Allen
- Jeffrey Uslip
- Kaloki Nyamai
- Daria Koltsova
- Pussy Riot
- David Levene
- Flora Luna
Institutions
- Venice Biennale
- Giardini della Biennale
- Polish pavilion
- Holy See pavilion
- Soundwalk Collective
- Japanese pavilion
- Austrian pavilion
- Berggruen Arts & Culture
- Palazzo Diedo
- Palazzo Manfrin
- British pavilion
- Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation
- Chiesa di Sant'Antonin
- Belgian pavilion
- Greek pavilion
- Spanish pavilion
- Fondazione Prada
- US pavilion
- Arsenale
- Russia pavilion
- Azov Brigade
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- Pokrovsk
- Ukraine
- Donetsk Oblast
- Egypt
- Poland
- Warsaw
- Venezia Santa Lucia railway station
- Austria
- Palazzo Diedo
- Palazzo Manfrin
- Great Britain
- London
- Barcelona
- Algiers
- South Africa
- Castello
- Belgium
- Greece
- Spain
- United States
- Kenya