The 61st Venice Biennale has opened under grey skies and political tension, with disputes over Russia and Israel, resignations on the jury, and protests marking the start of one of the art world’s most high-profile events.
The vernissage began on Tuesday (5 May) in Venice, where heavy rain accompanied a preview programme dominated by geopolitical controversy as much as art.
Lubaina Himid, representing the United Kingdom, presented large-scale paintings and a sound installation reflecting Britain’s colonial past, while other national pavilions reflected sharply contrasting moods and messages.
The Russian pavilion drew particular attention after returning to the Biennale for the first time since 2022, despite widespread criticism over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Although Russia is present, access to its pavilion has been heavily restricted.
Visitors will only be allowed inside during press preview days, while the exhibition will otherwise be experienced from outside, with projections and live music visible and audible through the building.
The decision to allow Russia’s participation has triggered political backlash, including threats from the European Union to withdraw funding, and criticism from Italy’s government.
Biennale organisers have argued that all countries have the right to maintain their national pavilions, but legal constraints linked to sanctions have limited public access.
Tensions were heightened further after the Biennale jury resigned en masse, citing opposition to considering entries from countries whose leaders are subject to international arrest warrants.
The move raised questions over the inclusion of both Russia and Israel in the event.
The Iranian pavilion has also withdrawn from the event without explanation.
Protests also took place within the Giardini, where around 60 artists staged a procession called Solidarity Drone Chorus, calling for greater attention to conflicts and the role of cultural institutions.
An open letter signed by more than 200 artists, including Lubaina Himid and Alfredo Jaar, demanded the cancellation of the Israeli pavilion.
This year’s Biennale is being delivered without its appointed curator, Koyo Kouoh, who died in May 2025. Her curatorial team has continued her plans, with works across the exhibition referencing her influence and legacy.
Despite the controversy, large crowds gathered at some installations, including Austria’s pavilion, which featured a performance work involving water tanks, live choreography and mechanical staging.
Outside, even an unplanned seagull nesting near the site attracted attention from visitors, with some mistaking it for an installation.
Organisers say the Biennale, which includes around 100 national participants, is expected to draw significant global attention, with past editions attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors.
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A shooting at a school in northwestern Brazil on Tuesday (5 May) has left two staff members dead and several others injured, including a student, in the latest incident of violence to hit the country’s education system.
The husband of imprisoned Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has expressed growing concern over her health following her hospitalisation for severe medical complications, warning that her condition could become life-threatening without proper treatment.
President Donald Trump cited "great progress" toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran as he announced he would briefly pause the operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urges China to pressure Tehran over its actions in the Hormuz.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second consecutive day on Tuesday (5 May), despite denials from authorities in Tehran.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it had launched a mission to try and reopen the sea passage. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister said there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict.
The United Arab Emirate said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second day in a row on Tuesday (5 May), despite denials from authorities in Tehran who threatened a "crushing response" if the UAE retaliated.
Uzbekistan has unveiled a series of major economic and regional initiatives as more than 4,000 delegates from over 100 countries gather in Samarkand for the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held under the theme “Crossroads of Progress.”
The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were transformed once again into the world's most prestigious runway for the 2026 Met Gala. This year’s theme, 'Costume Art,' invited guests to explore the intersection of nature, history, and the surreal under the official dress code 'Fashion Is Art'.
The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were transformed once again into the world's most prestigious runway for the 2026 Met Gala. This year’s theme, 'Costume Art,' invited guests to explore the intersection of nature, history, and the surreal under the official dress code 'Fashion Is Art'.
Hundreds of young people in South Korea have gathered in Seoul to take part in a city-backed “power nap contest”, aimed at drawing attention to the country’s chronic sleep deprivation.
A 21-year-old man accused of planning a terrorist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024 has pleaded guilty in part, as his trial opened on Tuesday (28 April) in Austria.
A federal jury has ruled that Ticketmaster and its parent Live Nation illegally controlled the U.S. concert ticket market for over a decade, a decision that could reshape how live music is sold and what fans ultimately pay.
Disney+ has debuted Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language, a new collection of animated musical sequences reimagined in American Sign Language (ASL), released on 27 April to mark National Deaf History Month.
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