The Venice Biennale has announced that for its 2026 edition, it will eliminate the traditional expert jury and instead allow the general public to vote for the prize winners. This marks a radical departure from the event's century-old practice of relying on a panel of art-world professionals to select the Golden Lion and other awards. The decision aims to democratize the selection process and engage a broader audience beyond the art establishment.
This shift matters because it challenges the authority of curators and critics in determining artistic merit, potentially reshaping how major international art exhibitions are evaluated. By empowering the public, the Biennale risks controversy over populism versus expertise, but it also signals a growing trend in the art world toward inclusivity and audience participation. The move could influence other biennials and large-scale exhibitions to reconsider their own award structures.