Biennale jury named

La Biennale di Venezia has named the five-member international jury for its 2026 art exhibition, with Brazilian curator Solange Oliveira Farkas serving as president. (labiennale.org) The other jurors are Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma and Giovanna Zapperi, according to the Biennale’s announcement on April 22. The group will award the Golden Lion for best national participation, the Golden Lion for the exhibition, the Silver Lion for a promising young participant and other official prizes. (labiennale.org) The 61st International Art Exhibition, titled *In Minor Keys* and curated by Koyo Kouoh, runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026, with pre-opening days on May 6, 7 and 8. The awards ceremony and inauguration are scheduled for Saturday, May 9. (labiennale.org) This year’s central exhibition will include 110 invited participants across the Giardini, the Arsenale and other Venice sites. The Biennale has also said countries recognized by the Italian government could apply for national participation by January 19, 2026. (labiennale.org; labiennale.org) The jury announcement lands as the Biennale faces pressure over national pavilions, especially Russia’s return after its pavilion was closed in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. European Parliament members called in March for the European Union to strip funding from the Biennale over the Russian pavilion. (artnews.com; artnews.com) The European Union then said this week that it “intends” to cut funding to the Biennale because of Russia’s participation, according to ARTnews. The same report said the pavilion had drawn objections from European politicians, artists and curators. (artnews.com) ARTnews also reported on April 23 that the jury said it would not consider countries whose leaders are charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity, a position that the outlet said would exclude Russia and Israel from prize consideration. La Biennale’s April 22 jury announcement did not include that language. (artnews.com; labiennale.org) La Biennale, founded in 1895, remains one of the art world’s biggest recurring exhibitions, and its jury decisions shape which artists and pavilions get the event’s highest-profile recognition. The next public marker is May 9, when the prizes are due to be handed out in Venice. (labiennale.org; labiennale.org)