The 2026 Venice Biennale is plagued by controversy and structural issues. Curator Koyo Kouoh died of cancer in 2025, leaving her team to execute the main exhibition "In Minor Keys" without her. The Biennale's jury resigned after refusing to judge entries from countries charged with war crimes, and media coverage during preview week focused on protests against the Israeli and Russian pavilions rather than the art. The sprawling exhibition features 96 national pavilions and 110 artists, with works ranging from Daniel Lind-Ramos's found-material figures to María Magdalena Campos-Pons's tribute to Toni Morrison and Kouoh.
This year's turmoil highlights the Biennale's outdated nation-state competition model, which clashes with the decolonial commitments of many participating artists. The administration's inconsistent handling of the Russian and Israeli pavilions has fueled protests, while the main exhibition's overwhelming scale and cacophony undermine its theme of listening and gentle resonance. The Biennale's inability to adapt its structure or address political tensions raises urgent questions about its relevance and future direction as a global art institution.