Venice Biennale includes 99 countries

La Biennale di Venezia opened its 61st International Art Exhibition on May 9, spreading the show across the Giardini, the Arsenale, other sites in Venice and Forte Marghera. The 2026 edition, titled *In Minor Keys*, is proceeding from the project conceived by curator Koyo Kouoh, who died on May 10, 2025, with the biennale saying it carried forward the exhibition with the support of her family. The official program includes 100 national participations and 31 collateral events, according to the biennale’s March 4 announcement, while opening-week coverage and image galleries have focused on the scale and spectacle of the national pavilions. ### Why are some reports saying 99 countries if the biennale announced 100 participations? La Biennale di Venezia said on March 4 that the exhibition would be accompanied by 100 national participations. The biennale later said on May 4 that Iran would not participate, while also stating that the official list still comprised 100 national participations because Tanzania and Seychelles had been added after the March announcement. (labiennale.org) The distinction appears to be between official participations listed by the biennale and the countries that some opening-week coverage counted as exhibiting. The official national participations page shows a roster of pavilions and venues across the Giardini, Arsenale and city sites, while outside guides and galleries have referred to 99 countries on view. That difference is an inference from the biennale’s own notices and contemporaneous media coverage. (labiennale.org) ### What is the basic structure of the Venice Biennale this year? The 61st International Art Exhibition runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026, after preview days from May 6 to May 8. The main exhibition, *In Minor Keys*, is staged at the Giardini and Arsenale and is accompanied by national pavilions mounted by participating countries and collateral events organized outside the biennale’s main venues. ArchDaily said the 100 national participations are distributed across 29 historic pavilions at the Giardini, 25 spaces at the Arsenale and 46 locations in Venice’s historic center. (labiennale.org) The biennale’s site separately lists 31 collateral events across the city. ### Which pavilions drew the most attention in the first days? Austria’s pavilion drew some of the most immediate attention during the press preview and opening week. (labiennale.org) E-flux highlighted Florentina Holzinger’s “Seaworld Venice” in the Austrian Pavilion, and Artnet described it as a “racy aquatic circus,” while The Guardian’s image coverage singled out naked jetskiers among the festival’s most striking scenes. (archdaily.com) Germany and Taiwan also featured prominently in early criticism. E-flux pointed to works by Sung Tieu and Henrike Naumann in the German Pavilion and Li Yi-Fan in “Taiwan in Venice” as examples of the body-centered work that stood out amid a politically charged opening week. ### How much of the conversation has been about politics rather than art? E-flux wrote on May 13 that the biennale was dominated by the death of Kouoh and protests over the inclusion of Israel and Russia. (e-flux.com) ARTnews reported that controversy over Russia’s inclusion and broader geopolitical tensions had shaped discussion around the national pavilions even before the opening. La Biennale said on April 30 that the international jury for the 61st exhibition had resigned. (e-flux.com) On the same day, the biennale said it would establish two Visitors’ Lions, one for a participant in the main exhibition and one for a national participation, with the awards ceremony moved to November 22. ### What should readers watch next if they are following the biennale from afar? The biennale’s official website is continuing to post national participation listings, collateral events and visitor guidance as the exhibition runs through November 22. (e-flux.com) Reviews and pavilion roundups from outlets including e-flux, ArchDaily and ARTnews are also mapping which national presentations are emerging as early standouts. November 22 is the next fixed date on the biennale calendar. (labiennale.org) La Biennale has said that ticket holders who visit both main venues can vote for the Visitors’ Lions, and the awards for best participating artist and best national participation are scheduled to be presented on the exhibition’s closing day. (labiennale.org 1) (labiennale.org 2)