Venice Biennale 110 artists, 99 pavilions

La Biennale di Venezia opened its 61st International Art Exhibition on May 9 under the title *In Minor Keys*, carrying forward the late curator Koyo Kouoh’s exhibition plan across the Giardini, the Arsenale and other sites in Venice. The official Biennale site says the show runs through November 22, 2026. The scale is one reason the event is drawing broad attention. The *Scotsman* said the central exhibition features 110 artists, while the wider Biennale includes 99 national pavilions as well as collateral shows across the city. ### Why are people talking about the Austrian Pavilion? Studio International’s roundup said the Austrian Pavilion has become an unofficial focal point in the Giardini because of a giant bell inscribed with the Latin phrase “O tempora o mores.” The official Austria page from La Biennale says the country’s presentation is by Florentina Holzinger and blends dance, theatre and performance around the subject of water. (labiennale.org) (scotsman.com) Austria’s culture ministry said Holzinger’s project, titled *SEAWORLD VENICE*, includes a permanent live installation and performances at the pavilion, along with site-specific études elsewhere in Venice and its lagoon. That helps explain why the pavilion has been treated in reviews as more than a static national display. ### How big is the Biennale this year? The Biennale’s official program spans the two main historic venues — the Giardini and the Arsenale — plus additional locations around Venice and Forte Marghera. (labiennale.org) La Biennale says the exhibition follows Kouoh’s curatorial framework even after her death, with the institution carrying out the exhibition with the support of her family. The *Scotsman* framed the logistics in practical terms, noting that 110 artists in the central exhibition and 99 national pavilions make the 61st edition difficult to see quickly. (bmwkms.gv.at) Separate guide coverage said 31 collateral events are also part of the 2026 edition, with seven countries making their debut. (labiennale.org) ### What is *In Minor Keys* supposed to be? La Biennale identifies *In Minor Keys* as the title of the 61st International Art Exhibition, and outside previews have described it as the realization of Kouoh’s curatorial plan. A curatorial text published by Universes said the project invites viewers to slow down and “tune in to the frequencies of the minor keys,” though that language comes from the exhibition text rather than a review. (scotsman.com) Berlin Art Link reported before the opening that Kouoh’s concept looked for quieter registers in what it described as a loud and unstable world. That framing has carried into reviews that emphasize contrast, confrontation and density rather than a single dominant theme. ### Where does the action sit beyond the main show? The Giardini remains the most concentrated national-pavilion zone, but the 2026 Biennale extends well beyond it. (labiennale.org) Official and ticketing materials say the exhibition also runs through the Arsenale and multiple sites around Venice, which means visitors are moving between the curated central exhibition, national representations and collateral events rather than encountering one contained show. (berlinartlink.com) That citywide spread is part of why individual pavilions can break out. Austria’s pavilion has drawn particular attention early, but the structure of the Biennale means national presentations, collateral exhibitions and the central show are all competing for notice at once. That is an inference from the event’s official layout and early review coverage. ### What happens next if you are tracking this story? (labiennale.org) The 61st Venice Biennale remains open until Sunday, November 22, 2026, according to La Biennale di Venezia. The official Biennale pages and national pavilion listings are the clearest places to track participating artists, pavilion details and any additional programming through the run of the exhibition. (labiennale.org)