EditVenice Biennale plunged into turmoil as entire art jury resigns
The move comes just days before the event’s opening on 9 May and escalates a major controversy over the participation of Russia and Israel
The full international jury for the Venice Biennale’s prestigious art exhibition has resigned, organisers announced on Thursday. The move comes just days before the event’s opening on 9 May and escalates a major controversy over the participation of Russia and Israel.
The jury’s resignation follows its decision last week to exclude artists from Russia and Israel from consideration for any awards. The panel cited a commitment to “the defence of human rights,” noting that the leaders of those countries – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – face arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Background of the dispute
The Venice Biennale has faced intense political pressure since early March, when organisers allowed Russia to return with a national pavilion for the first time since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The decision drew strong criticism from the Italian government, the European Commission, and parts of the art world.
The European Commission threatened to withdraw a €2 million grant if the Russian pavilion reopened. On Wednesday, Italy’s Culture Ministry sent inspectors to Venice to review the administrative process behind Russia’s readmission, raising the possibility of revoking the invitation.
Jury decision and reactions
The five-member jury, chaired by Brazilian curator Solange Farkas and including Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, announced it would not award prizes to artists representing countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity at the ICC. Only Russia and Israel were affected by this stance.
Israeli sculptor Belu Simion Fainaru, whose work is featured in the exhibition, accused the jury of racial discrimination and threatened legal action. The jury’s position also sparked broader debate about censorship, politics in art, and the role of international cultural events.
Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco has defended the inclusion of all participants, describing the event as “a space of coexistence for the whole planet” without censorship. Organisers stated that the jury operated with full autonomy.
Changes to the awards process
In response to the crisis, the Biennale has made significant adjustments:
- The traditional awards ceremony, normally held shortly after opening, has been postponed until November.
- For the first time, visitors will be invited to vote for their favourite artists and pavilions, including those from Russia and Israel.
- It remains unclear who will ultimately decide the top prizes (Golden Lion and Silver Lion) or whether works from the excluded countries will now be eligible.
The 61st International Art Exhibition, titled In Minor Keys and curated by Koyo Kouoh, will still open as planned on 9 May and run until 22 November. However, the jury’s mass resignation has added fresh uncertainty to one of the world’s most important contemporary art events.
With Reuters
Caption: The entrance to the Central Pavilion, in the Biennale Gardens, shortly before the presentation ceremony of the renovated building in preparation of the 61st Biennale International Art Exhibition, in Venice, Italy, 19 March 2026. The Biennale Arte 2026, titled ‘In Minor Keys,’ will run from 09 May to 22 November 2026. EPA/ANDREA MEROLA
Updated: May 1, 2026 - 06:57
