The curatorial team for the 61st Venice Biennale has unveiled the details for the 2026 exhibition, titled "In Minor Keys." The project follows the vision of the late Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman appointed to curate the Biennale, who passed away in May 2024. The exhibition will feature 111 artists and collectives, with a significant focus on the Global South and themes such as Shrines, Schools, and the Creole Garden. The team emphasized that the show is designed as a "collective score" rather than a traditional commentary on world events, prioritizing spiritual rest and radical social connection.
This announcement is significant as it clarifies how the world's most prestigious biennial will proceed following the loss of its lead curator. By honoring Kouoh’s "conductor-like" leadership and her commitment to African and diasporic artists, the 2026 edition promises to shift the Biennale's center of gravity toward non-Western perspectives and alternative institutional models. The inclusion of organizations like the GAS Foundation and the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute signals a move toward recognizing the networks that sustain global artistic practices beyond the traditional gallery system.