The Venice Biennale has announced it will eliminate the Golden and Silver Lions for the 2026 edition, replacing them with Visitor Lions chosen by popular vote. The prizes, traditionally awarded on opening day (May 9), will now be presented at the closing ceremony (November 22). Russia and Israel, previously barred from consideration by the prize jury due to ICC charges against their leaders, will be eligible for the new Visitor Lions. The decision follows the mass resignation of the original prize jury after they excluded those nations and faced pressure to also ban the US.
This move upends one of the art world's most prestigious award systems, replacing expert jury decisions with a public vote. The change has sparked divided reactions, with critics like art historian Antonia Majaca arguing it abdicates curatorial responsibility, while supporters like Italian minister Matteo Salvini praise it as more democratic. The controversy comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding the Biennale, with countries having invested millions in their pavilions, making the prize restructuring a flashpoint for debates about inclusion, accountability, and the role of art in political conflict.