The Venice Biennale 2026 preview week has been marked by political protests, despite the late curator Koyo Kouoh’s call for calm. The event, the world’s largest visual arts celebration, features 99 countries including seven first-time participants such as Somalia and Qatar.
Kouoh, who died just over a year ago, had curated the main show titled In Minor Keys, focusing on “enhancement”. However, the preview week was punctuated by a combustible mix of politics and protest.
The activist group Pussy Riot demonstrated against Russia’s inclusion, while a strike on Friday in protest at Israel’s involvement led several pavilions, including those of the UK, Austria, and France, to close their doors.
—
