Russia pavilion stays closed in Venice
- Russia’s pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale is open only for the May 6–8 press previews, then shuts to the public from May 9. - Instead of admitting visitors, the project “the tree is rooted in the sky” will survive as outdoor projections of performances by about 30 musicians. - The closure turns Russia’s return into a symbol of a wider crisis over sanctions, war, and the Biennale’s nation-based structure.
The Venice Biennale is supposed to be art world Olympics season — pavilions, prizes, openings, the whole ritual. But this year the most talked-about building may be the one people cannot enter. Russia is back at the Biennale for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, yet its pavilion will close to the public as soon as the press previews end on May 8. That awkward half-return has become the clearest symbol of what this edition is wrestling with. (france24.com) ### Why is the Russian pavilion closed? Because the Biennale found a way to let Russia technically participate without fully opening the space. Visitors can go inside only during the pre-opening press days. Once the public opening starts on May 9, the pavilion stays shut for the rest of the exhibition, which runs through November 22. (france24.com) ### So what will people actually see? Not a normal pavilion show. Russia’s project — “the tree is rooted in the sky” — is being performed during preview week, recorded, and then replayed outside on large screens. The notes describe around 30 young musicians, philosophers, and poets, mostly Russian but also fro(france24.com)ior. (france24.com) ### Why did this become such a fight? Because Russia’s return was never just about art. Organizers announced in March that Russia would participate again after being absent in 2024 and effectively sidelined after 2022, when the Russian team itself withdrew in protest over the invasion. That decision triggered (france24.com) platform for a state still waging war in Ukraine. (france24.com) ### What’s the sanctions problem? The catch is that the pavilion is Russian property dating back to 1914, so Biennale organizers argued they could not simply stop Russia from using it. But EU officials also threatened to suspend or terminate a €2 million grant over the decision, and sought clarification about (france24.com)ice than a legal and political workaround. (france24.com) ### Did this spill beyond Russia? Yes — fast. The Biennale’s entire prize jury resigned last week after saying they would not award countries led by figures facing international arrest warrants, a position that isolated both Russia and Israel. Protests also hit the preview days, including a Palestinian march i(france24.com)er. (france24.com) ### Where does Koyo Kouoh fit in? At the center of the main exhibition, but in absentia. This year’s Biennale, “In Minor Keys,” is still the show Kouoh designed before her death in May 2025. Her team is carrying it through, preserving her artist list, framework, and exhibition design. That means the central ex(france24.com) (labiennale.org) ### And Iran pulled out too? Yes. On May 4, organizers said Iran would not participate, without giving a reason. That withdrawal added to the sense that this Biennale is being shaped as much by war, diplomacy, and logistics as by art itself. (theartnewspaper.com)hat Venice could not find a clean way to separate culture from the wars surrounding it. The compromise keeps Russia nominally inside the Biennale while making the pavilion itself feel quarantined — present, visible, and politically radioactive at the same time. (france24.com)
