Several national pavilions at the 2026 Venice Biennale shut down during the final preview day in a strike organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (Anga) protesting Israel's inclusion due to its war in Gaza. Pavilions from Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Japan, Macedonia, and Korea closed entirely, while others like Britain, Spain, France, Egypt, Finland, and Luxembourg partially closed or reopened later. Artists in the main exhibition added Palestinian flags and posters reading "Palestine is the future of the world." The Israeli pavilion was closed for a private event, and earlier in the week Pussy Riot staged a protest at the Russian pavilion.
This protest matters because it marks one of the most politically charged disruptions at the Venice Biennale since the 1968 student occupations, which led to the cancellation of awards. The biennale's jury had already resigned en masse over refusal to consider entries from countries with leaders under international arrest warrants, and the UK government declined to send a minister to open its pavilion due to Russia's presence. The strike underscores growing pressure on major cultural institutions to take political stances on global conflicts, potentially reshaping how biennials navigate geopolitical tensions.