An activist group called Art Not Genocide Alliance has published an open letter demanding the Venice Biennale eject Israel from this year's exhibition. The letter has been signed by nearly 200 artists, curators, and arts workers participating in the 2026 Biennale, including members of the main exhibition's curatorial team and contributors to several national pavilions. The letter accuses Israel of genocide and apartheid, and references the 2024 Biennale where Israel's pavilion remained closed due to similar protests.
The controversy highlights the intense political pressures facing major international art events, forcing them to navigate calls for cultural boycotts against nation-states accused of human rights violations. This follows a similar protest against Russia's planned return to the Biennale, testing the organization's stated commitment to being an open platform for dialogue and artistic freedom amidst geopolitical conflicts. The situation underscores the Biennale's recurring role as a flashpoint for global political disputes.