The 2026 Venice Biennale has opened to the public, featuring the main exhibition 'In Minor Keys' conceived by the late Cameroonian Swiss curator Koyo Kouoh, who died unexpectedly in May 2025. Kouoh, the first African woman appointed to lead the Biennale, had her curatorial team—including Rasha Salti, Marie Hélène Pereira, and Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo—carry forward her vision of art as a 'shared and sustaining force.' The opening was weighted with politics and emotion.
The Biennale matters because it marks a historic moment for representation in the art world, with Kouoh's posthumous vision shaping one of the most prestigious international exhibitions. Her appointment and untimely death highlight ongoing conversations about diversity, legacy, and the role of curatorial leadership in global art institutions. The exhibition's themes of shared experience and resilience resonate amid broader political tensions, making this edition a poignant reflection on art's power to unite.