Venice Biennale 2026: Ten Standout Exhibitions Across the City
The 61st Venice Biennale presents a variety of exhibitions that extend beyond the Giardini and Arsenale. At Gallerie dell'Accademia, Marina Abramović's "Transforming Energy" marks her as the first living female artist to hold a significant exhibition there. Georg Baselitz's "Eroi d'Oro," located on San Giorgio Maggiore, features new works contemplating time and mortality. David Salle's "Painting in the Present Tense" at Palazzo Cini incorporates AI to reinterpret historical art. Erwin Wurm's "Dreamers" is showcased at Museo Fortuny, while Palazzo Grassi displays Michael Armitage's "The Promise of Change." At Punta della Dogana, Paulo Nazareth's "Algebra" and Lorna Simpson's "Third Person" address themes of colonialism and identity. Additionally, Fondazione Dries Van Noten offers "The Only True Protest Is Beauty," and Anish Kapoor presents a retrospective of his work spanning five decades at Palazzo Manfrin.
Key facts
- Marina Abramović is the first living woman artist to have a major exhibition at Gallerie dell'Accademia.
- Georg Baselitz's 'Eroi d'Oro' features monumental canvases with gold grounds and inverted figures.
- David Salle uses a custom-trained AI model in his first solo Venice exhibition at Palazzo Cini.
- Erwin Wurm's 'Dreamers' at Museo Fortuny includes new sculptures and One Minute Sculptures.
- Michael Armitage's 'The Promise of Change' is his largest European exhibition, at Palazzo Grassi.
- Amar Kanwar's 'Co-travellers' at Palazzo Grassi includes 'The Torn First Pages' (2004–08) and 'The Peacock's Graveyard' (2023).
- Paulo Nazareth's 'Algebra' at Punta della Dogana uses a line of salt to map a slave ship.
- Lorna Simpson's 'Third Person' at Punta della Dogana is supported by Bottega Veneta.
- Fondazione Dries Van Noten's inaugural exhibition features over 200 works at Palazzo Pisani Moretta.
- Anish Kapoor's survey at Palazzo Manfrin includes around 100 models and monumental installations.
Entities
Artists
- Marina Abramović
- Georg Baselitz
- David Salle
- Erwin Wurm
- Michael Armitage
- Amar Kanwar
- Paulo Nazareth
- Lorna Simpson
- Anish Kapoor
- Dries Van Noten
- Geert Bruloot
- Tadao Ando
Institutions
- Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia
- Fondazione Giorgio Cini
- Palazzo Cini Gallery
- Museo Fortuny
- Pinault Collection Palazzo Grassi
- Pinault Collection Punta della Dogana
- Fondazione Dries Van Noten
- Palazzo Manfrin
- Bottega Veneta
- Thaddaeus Ropac gallery
- Hauser & Wirth
- Lisson Gallery
- Whitewall
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- Arsenale
- Dorsoduro
- San Giorgio Maggiore
- San Vio
- San Marco
- San Samuele
- San Polo
- Cannaregio
- Palazzo Pisani Moretta