Venice Biennale 2026 Opens with 61st Edition

This week, the 61st Venice Biennale kicked off, the top contemporary art showcase in the world, running until November 22, 2026. Visitors can explore offsite country pavilions for free. The Estonian Pavilion, set in the old Church of Santa Maria Assunta, features Merike Estna's solo show 'The House of Leaking Sky,' which includes live painting and ceramic portraits of notable female artists, alongside designs from Lilli Jahilo. Somalia is making its Biennale debut at Palazzo Caboto, curated by Mohamed Mire and Fabio Scrivant, where Ayan Farah and poets Asmaa Jama and Warsan Shire present textile, sound, and scent pieces under the theme 'Nation of Poets.' Meanwhile, Iceland showcases Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir's 'Pocket Universe' at Via Garibaldi. American artist Joseph Kosuth reveals 'The-Exchange-Value-of-Language-Has-Fallen-to-Zero' at Casa dei Tre Oci, featuring new and past works. For a stay, the Hilton Molino Stucky, a restored 19th-century mill, offers a charming experience with a rooftop bar, and dining includes upscale Asian fare at Aromi and casual seafood on Via Garibaldi.