Venice Biennale showdown
European lawmakers urged Venice Biennale organizers to reconsider Russia’s return in 2026 — a political push that has rattled this year’s program. South African artist Gabrielle Goliath had a Palestine tribute banned from the official Biennale but will still exhibit in Venice outside the main pavilions, while the Syrian Pavilion focuses on Palmyra’s destroyed funerary towers and organisers announced 31 collateral events. ( )
At least 34 Members of the European Parliament have signed a letter pressing EU leaders to consider suspending funding to La Biennale over the decision to reinstate a Russian national pavilion. (politico.eu) A separate joint appeal was sent by culture ministers from 22 European countries urging the Biennale to exclude the Russian Federation from the 61st International Art Exhibition. (politico.eu) The European Commission has signalled it could suspend roughly €2 million in EU support for the Biennale if the Russian presence proceeds, a warning that has escalated the dispute. (news.artnet.com) Two EU commissioners — Henna Virkkunen and Glenn Micallef — publicly condemned the decision and said platforms must respect sanctions that target individuals and entities tied to Kremlin policy. (theartnewspaper.com) More than 6,000 artists, academics and cultural figures have signed open letters opposing Russia’s return, including public endorsements from Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova. (hyperallergic.com) Italy’s culture minister, Alessandro Giuli, has demanded the resignation of the ministry’s representative on the Biennale board, Tamara Gregoretti, amid the row over Russia’s pavilion. (ocula.com) Giuli has also launched an internal inquiry and asked the Biennale for all correspondence relating to Russia’s planned participation to determine whether EU sanctions or procedures were breached. (en.ilsole24ore.com) Artist Gabrielle Goliath lost a South African court challenge to the cancellation of her official pavilion on February 18, 2026, and announced on March 25 that she will present her performance Elegy independently in Venice despite the government’s decision. (dailymaverick.co.za) Goliath’s Elegy was revised to include a tribute to Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada, killed in an Israeli airstrike in October 2023, and the project also references two Nama women killed during German colonial violence in the early 20th century. (artreview.com) Syria’s national pavilion will be a single-artist project by Damascene painter Sara Shamma titled The Tower Tomb of Palmyra, curated by Yuko Hasegawa and slated for the Biennale running from May 9 to November 22, 2026. (biennialfoundation.org) La Biennale di Venezia has confirmed the scale of this edition as 99 National Participations accompanied by 31 officially recognised collateral events across the city. (labiennale.org)
