Venice Biennale Fallout

La Biennale di Venezia has named the five-member jury for its 2026 art exhibition as pressure mounts over Russia’s planned return. (labiennale.org) Brazilian curator Solange Oliveira Farkas will preside over the jury, joined by Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi. La Biennale said the awards ceremony is set for May 9, 2026, the opening day of the 61st International Art Exhibition. (labiennale.org) The 2026 show, titled *In Minor Keys*, runs from May 9 to November 22, with preview days on May 6, 7, and 8. La Biennale says the exhibition will present 110 invited participants across the Giardini, the Arsenale, and other Venice venues. (labiennale.org) The jury announcement lands in the middle of a dispute over Russia’s national pavilion, which is due to return for the first time since the 2019 edition. La Biennale listed 100 national participations for 2026 in March, and its open-participation model says national pavilions arise from initiatives by countries recognized by Italy. (artnews.com, labiennale.org) Ukraine has asked Italy not to issue visas to Russian participants. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on April 22 that Kyiv was raising the issue with Italy as host country ahead of the Biennale. (interfax.com.ua) Latvia has pushed for a broader European response. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said the European Union should adopt a common position barring Russia from the exhibition, according to EU News. (eunews.it) The European Union has also moved from criticism to money. Politico and ARTnews reported that European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc intends to cut funding to the Biennale over the Russian pavilion, and ARTnews separately reported that the European Commission gave the institution 30 days to respond to questions tied to sanctions compliance. (politico.eu, artnews.com, artnews.com) La Biennale has defended its position by saying any country recognized by Italy can mount a pavilion and that it rejects exclusion or censorship in culture and art. That response has not stopped criticism from Ukraine, members of the European Parliament, and some artists. (artnews.com, artnews.com) Ukraine has already imposed sanctions on five people it said were involved in organizing and participating in the Russian pavilion. The Ukrainian Culture Ministry said the measures were enacted by presidential decree on April 9. (mincult.gov.ua) For now, the Biennale is moving ahead on two tracks at once: finalizing the machinery of the 2026 exhibition and facing a widening diplomatic fight before the May 9 opening. (labiennale.org, labiennale.org, artnews.com)