Venice Biennale jury excludes countries whose leaders face international criminal charges from prize consideration

A five-member jury for the 61st Venice Biennale said on April 23 that it will not consider for awards countries whose leaders face International Criminal Court charges. (e-flux.com) The statement was signed by chair Solange Farkas and jurors Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi. The panel said it was acting in defense of human rights and in line with curator Koyo Kouoh’s project, “In Minor Keys.” (e-flux.com) The Biennale’s press office told ARTnews the jury acts “autonomously” and that the public statement was the jurors’ own position. The awards ceremony is scheduled for May 9 in Venice. (artnews.com) (labiennale.org) The rule does not name countries, but it directly affects Israel and Russia because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Vladimir Putin are both subject to International Criminal Court action cited in coverage of the decision. ARTnews also noted other leaders facing International Criminal Court cases do not represent countries with pavilions in Venice this year. (artnews.com) (jta.org) The awards fight lands days before the 61st exhibition opens to the public on May 9 and runs through November 22. La Biennale says the 2026 edition includes 100 national participations, 31 collateral events, and 110 invited participants in the main exhibition. (labiennale.org) The jury’s move is separate from participation itself. Biennale organizers have said states recognized by Italy are allowed to take part, even as artists and officials pushed to exclude some national pavilions. (artnews.com 1) (artnews.com 2) That distinction has not cooled the politics around the show. Italy’s culture minister, Alessandro Giuli, said he will skip the preview and opening ceremony in protest of Russia’s return to the national pavilion circuit. (artnews.com) ARTnews reported that Russia’s pavilion return was approved by Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco and has split Italian officials, with board member Tamara Gregoretti backing Moscow’s participation. Matteo Salvini also supported Russia’s presence, according to the same report. (artnews.com) The European Union has also weighed in. ARTnews reported that Brussels intends to cut a €2 million grant tied to the Biennale over Russia’s pavilion, while Ukraine has sanctioned five people associated with that pavilion and pressed for their visas to be revoked. (artnews.com) So the Biennale is heading into its May 6-8 preview with Russia and Israel still present, but no longer eligible for the top prizes under the jury’s rule. The opening week now carries a second storyline alongside Kouoh’s posthumously realized exhibition. (labiennale.org) (e-flux.com)