Sous pression, le jury de la 61e Biennale de Venise exclura les pavillons russe et israélien du palmarès
The 61st Venice Biennale, titled "In Minor Keys" and running from May 9 to November 22, 2026, has been embroiled in political controversy after organizers decided to reinstate the Russian pavilion, which had been excluded since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Under pressure from the European Commission, which threatened to suspend a €2 million grant, the jury announced it will exclude artists from the Russian and Israeli pavilions from winning prizes, citing that leaders Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu face International Criminal Court charges for crimes against humanity. The Russian pavilion will remain closed to the public but open for VIP press previews, while the Israeli pavilion stays open to the public. Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli has refused to attend the opening ceremony in protest.
This decision matters because it highlights the growing intersection of geopolitics and major international art exhibitions, forcing institutions to navigate ethical and legal pressures. The Biennale's compromise—excluding pavilions from awards while allowing their presence—has drawn criticism from all sides: Ukraine and pro-Palestinian artists demand full exclusion, Israel condemns the move as political indoctrination, and the EU's financial leverage underscores how funding can shape cultural policy. The outcome sets a precedent for how global art events handle state-sponsored participation amid ongoing conflicts.