A review of the 2026 Venice Biennale without naming a single artist

This review of the 2026 Venice Biennale describes an exhibition that overcame dire circumstances—the death of curator Koyo Kouoh early in preparations, losses of key artists, and international political controversies—to deliver a surprisingly joyful and engaging show. Titled "In Minor Keys," the Biennale features a well-conceived, flowing presentation across the Giardini and Arsenale that prioritizes beauty, craftsmanship, and hope over a punitive or documentary tone.

The review matters because it highlights how the Biennale successfully addresses the late curator's core themes—post-colonialism, the African diaspora, feminism, Black self-representation—without feeling heavy or funereal. It also identifies key trends the exhibition crystallizes: a focus on the non-human (plants, minerals), a resurgence of artisanal skill, a choral quality where artworks converse across national boundaries, and a deliberate de-emphasis on artists' nationalities. This edition reaffirms the Venice Biennale's role as the world's most important art exhibition.