Chaos at Venice Biennale as jury quits over Israeli and Russian participation

Winners for the national pavilion and main show will be announced on the closing day, November 22, 2026.

Curator Natalia Sielewicz frames the exhibition as everyday feminism focused on sustaining life and the planet, drawing parallels with the works on display.

Estonia’s Merike Estna creates a large wall painting inside a gymnasium housed in a space that was once a church, exploring layered histories and the daily practice of painting.

Water drips from suspended tubes into a pool in cycles of 42 seconds, with locks engraved with 'Love thy neighbor as thyself' and 'This too shall pass,' reflecting themes of divine power and human connection.

A naked woman breathes through a scuba mouthpiece in a large tank flushed with water, part of Seaworld Venice’s provocative presentation on spectacle and environment.

Florentina Holzinger stages performances including a naked woman hanging from a bell and a nude rider on a Jet Ski inside a tank, highlighting Venice’s tensions with over-tourism and spectacle.

The Mystic Gardens, by the Discalced Carmelite order, invite visitors to walk among gardens and headphones play interpretations of Hildegard of Bingen’s music, framing a contemplative counterpoint to global turmoil.

Lubaina Himid presents works exploring what it means to make a home in a new place, including brightly hued paintings of couples facing dilemmas of newcomers; one painting features architects debating how to build in a way that contributes to culture versus escaping tomorrow.

The first African woman chosen to curate the Biennale, the late Koyo Kouoh, assembled 110 artists and groups under a title spotlighting overlooked perspectives. Five co-curators carry on her legacy after her death a year ago.

Visitors at the Giardini and Arsenale will vote for the best national pavilion (out of 100 participants) and the best participant in the main curated show, In Minor Keys, in Eurovision style; winners to be announced on the closing day, November 22, 2026.

The Venice Biennale jury quits in protest of Israel’s and Russia’s participation, resulting in the edition opening without Golden Lions as tensions surface at the pavilions.