Biennale excludes nations

The Venice Biennale’s 2026 awards jury said it will not consider artists from countries whose leaders face International Criminal Court charges. (usnews.com) The five-member jury announced the policy on Thursday, April 23, ahead of the 61st International Art Exhibition in Venice, which opens on May 9 and runs through November 22. La Biennale says the show will present 110 participants, and the awards ceremony is set for opening day. (labiennale.org 1) (labiennale.org 2) (labiennale.org 3) The jury did not name countries, but coverage and the court record point to Russia and Israel. The International Criminal Court lists an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued on November 21, 2024, and Reuters tied the Biennale move to earlier charges against Russian President Vladimir Putin. (theguardian.com) (icc-cpi.int) (usnews.com) The awards decision landed after a separate fight over Russia’s return to the exhibition itself. The European Commission said on March 10 that it “strongly condemn[ed]” the Biennale foundation’s decision to let Russia reopen its national pavilion for the 2026 show. (ec.europa.eu) That dispute turned into money. European Commission officials said this week they aimed to suspend or terminate an ongoing €2 million grant tied to the Biennale, and The Associated Press reported the funding had been pulled. (ec.europa.eu) (apnews.com) La Biennale has kept Russia in the exhibition’s national-participation structure even as the jury shut Russia and Israel out of prize consideration. The institution’s March list of national participations said 100 countries would take part in 2026 and described the Biennale as “an open institution.” (labiennale.org) The jury framed its decision as a human-rights stance tied to the exhibition conceived by the late curator Koyo Kouoh. Kouoh, who was appointed to lead the 2026 edition and died in May 2025, remains credited with shaping “In Minor Keys,” the show the Biennale decided to carry forward with her family’s support. (theguardian.com) (labiennale.org) (labiennialassociation.org) The split between participation and prizes leaves the Biennale trying to hold two positions at once before opening week: countries can still show, but some cannot win. The first test comes on Saturday, May 9, when the Golden Lion and Silver Lion awards are handed out in Venice. (politico.eu) (labiennale.org)