The jury for the 2026 Venice Biennale has resigned en masse, announcing the decision via e-flux's Instagram account on April 30 without providing a reason. The five-member jury, including president Solange Oliveira Farks, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, had previously stated they would not consider national pavilions from countries charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, directly affecting Israel and Russia. In response, the Biennale postponed the awards ceremony from May to November 22 and replaced the Golden Lions with two "Visitors' Lions" voted on by the public.
This mass resignation matters because it highlights the deepening politicization of the Venice Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious art exhibitions, amid ongoing controversies over the inclusion of Israel and Russia. The jury's stance and the Biennale's subsequent restructuring of its top prizes signal a shift toward public participation in awarding honors, while also reflecting broader tensions between artistic freedom, human rights advocacy, and geopolitical pressures in the international art world.