Venice Biennale includes 96 pavilions

La Biennale di Venezia opened its 61st International Art Exhibition to the public on May 9, 2026, with national pavilions spread across the Giardini, the Arsenale and sites around Venice. The official organizer says this year’s edition includes 100 national participations and 31 collateral events, alongside the main exhibition “In Minor Keys,” conceived by the late curator Koyo Kouoh. The show runs through November 22. Days before the public opening, the Biennale said its five-member international jury had resigned, and it replaced the usual jury prizes with two awards decided by visitors. ### How many pavilions are actually in this year’s Biennale? La Biennale said on March 4 that the 2026 edition would be accompanied by 100 national participations, not 96. The organizer’s national participations page lists countries and venues across Venice, including long-established Giardini pavilions and country presentations staged in churches, palazzos and other off-site spaces. (labiennale.org) The Biennale’s own visitor guide says both the Giardini and the Arsenale combine sections for the international exhibition and for national participations. That matters because readers often use “pavilions” as shorthand for all country entries, even though some countries exhibit in permanent national buildings and others mount temporary presentations elsewhere in the city. ### What is in the main exhibition this year? (labiennale.org) The Biennale said “In Minor Keys” was curated by Koyo Kouoh and is being carried out with the support of her family after her death on May 10, 2025. The exhibition runs at the Giardini, the Arsenale, various locations across Venice and Forte Marghera. Artsy reported in March, citing the organizers’ announcement, that the main exhibition includes 111 artists — 105 individual artists and six artist-led organizations. (labiennale.org) The Biennale’s artists page lists participants ranging from Laurie Anderson and Kader Attia to Sammy Baloji and Akinbode Akinbiyi. ### Why is Koyo Kouoh still central to the show? (labiennale.org) The Biennale board appointed Kouoh in November 2024 to curate the 61st edition, making her the director of the visual arts department for the 2026 exhibition. The official 2026 homepage says the exhibition now proceeds under the title and curatorial framework she set before her death. An official introduction published by “Koyo’s Team” describes “In Minor Keys” as an exhibition built around listening, relation and shared artistic worlds. (artsy.net) The Biennale has continued to present the exhibition under her name in all official materials released for the opening. ### What happened to the jury and the prizes? La Biennale said on April 30 that it had received the resignations of the entire international jury: Solange Farkas, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma and Giovanna Zapperi. (labiennale.org) The organizer did not detail the jurors’ reasons in that statement. The same day, the Biennale said it was postponing the awards ceremony from May 9 to November 22 and creating two “Visitors’ Lions” to be awarded by public vote. (labiennale.org) Those prizes cover one artist in the international exhibition and one national participation. Voting opened with the public launch on May 9. ### Where does the dispute over Russia and Israel fit in? (labiennale.org) Le Monde reported on May 7 that Russia’s return to the Biennale and Israel’s participation had become focal points for protests around this year’s exhibition. The report said artists and organizers in Venice were divided over how the event should handle countries linked to active wars and international legal disputes. (labiennale.org) The Biennale’s official statements confirm the timing of the jury resignations and the shift in the awards process, but they do not attribute those moves to Russia or Israel by name. In public-facing terms, the organizer’s response was procedural: cancel the May jury awards, open a visitor ballot and move the ceremony to the final day. ### What should visitors expect next? (lemonde.fr) The Biennale said attendance reached about 10,000 visitors on opening day, up 10% from 2024. The exhibition remains open through November 22 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and other Venice venues, with tickets covering the two main sites. November 22, 2026, is now the key date for the event’s formal close. La Biennale says that is when the rescheduled awards ceremony will be held and when the two Visitors’ Lions will be decided. (labiennale.org 1) (labiennale.org 2) (labiennale.org 3)