Venice, May 4, 2026 Iran Absent from Venice Biennale 2026
The 61st Venice Biennale begins on May 9, but Iran will not participate this year.
New Participants and Returnees
Eight countries are making their debut at the prestigious art exhibition: Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Nauru, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Vietnam, and the Seychelles. El Salvador will also have its own pavilion for the first time.
Russia is returning after a four-year absence, which was due to the war against Ukraine. However, the Russian pavilion will only be accessible to the press. The artworks on display are said to have connections to the Kremlin.
Controversies and Changes
The international jury withdrew from the Biennale due to disagreements over the handling of Russia and Israel. The Italian government responded by sending inspectors to Venice after the jury announced that Russia and Israel would not receive awards.