The Venice Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions, opens its most contested edition in memory without a jury after the jury resigned in protest over the participation of Israel and Russia, both under investigation by the International Criminal Court for human rights abuses. Protests have erupted outside the Israeli and Russian pavilions, with demonstrators clashing with police, while feminist groups from Ukraine and Russia converged on the Russian Pavilion and Palestinians remembered artists killed in Gaza. The Biennale has replaced the jury with a public vote via email, with winners announced at the close on November 22.
This edition matters because it marks a historic rupture in the Biennale's tradition, with the jury's resignation and the shift to a popular vote reflecting deep geopolitical fractures in the art world. The controversy over Israel's and Russia's participation, alongside the absence of a Golden Lion award, underscores how major cultural institutions are increasingly forced to navigate political crises. The exhibition also features notable firsts, including the late Koyo Kouoh as the first African woman to curate the main show, and a focus on minority perspectives, making it a pivotal moment for both art and global politics.