Venice Biennale dates firmed
Organizers list the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia from May 9 to November 22, 2026, making the May opening the key moment for artists and art‑world travelers planning trips. (veniceinsiderguide.com)
La Biennale di Venezia has fixed the 61st International Art Exhibition for May 9 to November 22, 2026, with preview days on May 6, 7 and 8. (labiennale.org) The 2026 edition carries the title *In Minor Keys* and will unfold at the Giardini, the Arsenale and other sites across Venice, according to the Biennale’s official program. The awards ceremony and inauguration are scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026. (labiennale.org) The official visitor page lists opening hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May through September, then 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from October through November 22. It also says the show closes on Mondays except May 11, June 1, September 7 and November 16. (labiennale.org) The May preview matters because those three days are when press, curators, collectors and museum staff typically converge on Venice before the public opening. The Biennale’s ticketing partner is already advertising those preview dates alongside the public run. (vivaticket.it) This edition also arrives after a major shock for the exhibition itself. La Biennale said curator Koyo Kouoh died in May 2025, then later said it would carry out the 2026 exhibition with the full support of her family and under the title she chose. (labiennale.org 1) (labiennale.org 2) Kouoh was appointed in November 2024 as director of the Visual Arts Department with the task of curating the 61st exhibition. The Biennale identified her at the time as the executive director and chief curator of Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. (labiennale.org) For visitors, the official information page lists online-only ticket sales and prices starting at 20 euros for adults, 15 euros for university students and 10 euros for secondary-school students. The same page says reservations are required for tickets and guided tours. (labiennale.org) The Venice Biennale runs on a two-year cycle for art and architecture, so the 2026 dates lock in one of the art world’s main calendar anchors more than a year ahead of opening week. For artists, curators and travelers planning Venice in early May, those preview days are now the fixed point. (labiennale.org)
