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Venice Biennale Jury Resigns Over Russia's 2026 Participation
The international jury for the 2026 Venice Biennale resigned days before the event's opening amid controversy over allowing Russia to participate. The decision followed backlash from the Italian government and the European Commission, prompting organizers to postpone the award ceremony and introduce visitor voting. The biennale emphasized its commitment to openness and rejection of censorship.
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The entire five-member international jury of the Venice Biennale resigned on Thursday, just days before the 61st International Art Exhibition is set to open on May 9, 2026. The resignations stem from a dispute over the organizers' decision to permit Russia to have a pavilion, marking its return since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Organizers announced the move in a brief statement, without providing further details on the jury's reasoning. The jury had previously stated it would exclude countries from awards if their leaders face International Criminal Court arrest warrants for war crimes, targeting Russia and Israel.
This policy was announced a week before the resignations. The exhibition features national pavilions from dozens of countries, attracting over 600,000 visitors during its seven-month run.
Italy's culture ministry sent inspectors to Venice on Wednesday to gather information about Russia's inclusion. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described the decision as made entirely independently by the Biennale Foundation, despite government opposition, and declared a boycott of the event.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated that the government does not agree with the choice but noted the biennale's autonomy. The European Commission informed the Biennale Foundation this week of plans to terminate or suspend its 2 million euro grant due to Russia's participation.
The commission gave organizers 30 days to respond. Ukrainian officials urged reconsideration in March, arguing the event should not whitewash war crimes, while a group of cross-party MEPs condemned the inclusion as unacceptable. It will now hand out two awards, one open to any national participation on the official list, based on principles of inclusion and equal treatment.
Visitors will vote for the winners, aligning with the organization's founding spirit of openness and dialogue. Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco oversees the institution, which has faced weeks of criticism. The organization stressed it rejects any form of exclusion or censorship and cannot bar Russia, as the country owns its pavilion.
