Art Newspaper gathers seven Venice Biennale verdicts

The Art Newspaper published a June 3 roundup of seven reactions to the 2026 Venice Biennale, offering a snapshot of how critics, curators and museum figures are assessing this year’s exhibition after its opening in May. The article, reported by Louisa Buck, centered on “In Minor Keys,” the main exhibition conceived by the late curator Koyo Kouoh, and widened out to national pavilions and collateral shows. The piece gathered views from figures including Tai Shani, Ekow Eshun and Naomi Beckwith, reflecting a range of responses rather than a single line of judgment. The roundup arrives as the 61st International Art Exhibition is underway in Venice through November 22. ### Who was being asked to judge the Biennale? The Art Newspaper said seven “leading art world figures” were invited to give their thoughts on the 2026 edition. The publication’s summary said those contributors ranged from artist Tai Shani to writer and curator Ekow Eshun, and also included Naomi Beckwith, deputy director and chief curator of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. (theartnewspaper.com) Louisa Buck’s article framed the exercise around three parts of the Venice experience: Kouoh’s central exhibition, the national pavilions and the broader network of collateral and institutional shows spread across the city. That format matters because the Venice Biennale is not a single exhibition but a layered event split between the Giardini, the Arsenale and multiple other venues across Venice. (theartnewspaper.com) ### What is “In Minor Keys,” and where does it sit in the 2026 Biennale? La Biennale di Venezia says “In Minor Keys” is the title of the 61st International Art Exhibition and that it runs from Saturday, May 9, to Sunday, November 22, 2026. The exhibition is staged at the Giardini, the Arsenale, Forte Marghera and other locations in Venice, with pre-opening events held on May 6, 7 and 8. The Art Newspaper has reported that the exhibition follows the curatorial plan set out by Kouoh before her death in May 2025. (theartnewspaper.com) In February, the paper said Kouoh’s team announced 111 artists and artist collectives for the show, many from the Global South, and in May it reported that the realized exhibition was carried out with the support of her family and curatorial team. (labiennale.org) ### Why does this roundup matter now instead of at the opening? June 3 is late enough in the Biennale calendar for first-wave reactions to move beyond previews and opening-day logistics. The Art Newspaper’s roundup came nearly a month after the exhibition opened to the public on May 9, giving contributors time to weigh the main show against national presentations and museum exhibitions around Venice. (theartnewspaper.com) The publication has been building that coverage in stages. On May 8, it published a formal review of “In Minor Keys,” and on May 6 it issued its own selection of standout national pavilions. The June 3 piece adds another layer by assembling external verdicts rather than only staff criticism. ### How big is the 2026 Biennale beyond the main show? La Biennale said in February that the 2026 edition includes 100 national participations and 31 collateral events alongside the international exhibition. (theartnewspaper.com) The Art Newspaper has separately described the Biennale as extending across official pavilions, collateral exhibitions, museum shows and performances throughout the city. (theartnewspaper.com) That wider field is part of why the June 3 roundup did not stop at Kouoh’s exhibition. The responses discussed national pavilions and other institutional presentations, reflecting how visitors and critics typically encounter Venice as a citywide sequence of shows rather than a single curated route. ### What was the separate book the paper pointed readers to? (labiennale.org) The Art Newspaper said on June 2 that Massimiliano Gioni has edited “High Waters: An Oral History of the Venice Biennale,” a 200-page book published by JRP Editions. The paper said the volume is built from conversations with 16 curators who have worked on the exhibition from 1993 to 2026, including Gioni, who directed the 2013 edition. (theartnewspaper.com) That book gives readers a parallel route into the Biennale while the 2026 edition is still running. The Venice exhibition itself remains open through November 22, according to La Biennale, with the Giardini and Arsenale continuing to host both the international exhibition and national participations. (labiennale.org) (theartnewspaper.com)