On May 6, 2026, the Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian pavilions at the Venice Biennale organized a procession in solidarity with Ukraine, walking approximately one and a half miles from the Lithuanian Pavilion in the Fucina del Futuro to the Estonian pavilion. The action honored Ukrainian cultural workers creating under war conditions and those who have died. It is one of several political protests at the contentious 2026 Biennale, including demonstrations by Pussy Riot and FEMEN at the Russian pavilion, a "Solidarity Drone Chorus" opposing Israel's inclusion, and a planned 24-hour strike by the Art Not Genocide Alliance.
The procession matters because it highlights the escalating geopolitical tensions within the Venice Biennale, a premier global art event. The Biennale's decision to allow Russia's participation, despite the International Criminal Court charging both Israel and Russia with crimes against humanity, has sparked widespread protest and even the resignation of the entire jury. Solvita Krese, director of the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art, underscored that the situation raises urgent questions about cultural institutions' responsibility in defending freedom amid today's geopolitical realities.