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Venice Biennale art fair

Curator Avital Bar-Ishay and artist Belu-Simion Fainaru at the Israel pavilion at the Israel pavilion at the Venice 2026 Biennale Art, May 11, 2026. (Courtesy)
May 11, 2026, 5:46 pm
Despite protests, Israeli Biennale pavilion opens, includes Jewish mystical symbols
Tubes dripping with water, mezuzah scrolls and locks printed with commandments make up ‘Rose of Nothingness,’ artist Belu-Simion Fainaru’s installation
By Jessica Steinberg
Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activists stage a protest against the participation of Israel in the Venice Biennale art show, in front of Israel's pavilion, on May 6, 2026, in Venice. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)
May 9, 2026, 1:19 pm
Artists strike to protest Israeli participation ahead of Venice Biennale
Some 12 pavilions closed or partially shuttered, while others fly Palestinian flags; police clash with march of 2,000 demonstrators trying to reach Israeli installation
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Pro-Palestinian activists stage a protest against the participation of Israel in the Venice Biennale art show, in front of Israel's pavilion on May 6, 2026 in Venice. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)
May 6, 2026, 11:51 pm
Venice Biennale previews marred by protests over Israeli, Russian presence
Bare-breasted activists demonstrate against Russia’s return to prestigious art festival for first time since Ukrainian invasion; pro-Palestinian protesters hold ‘No artwashing genocide’ banners outside Israel pavilion
By Agencies and ToI Staff
A group gathers with a Palestinian flag in front of the main entrance wearing the names of artists who have been killed in Gaza, at the Venice 2026 Biennale Art, Italy, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
May 6, 2026, 9:04 am
Venice Biennale previews in chaos, overshadowed by row over Israeli and Russian participation
World’s largest art show faces unprecedented tensions in wake of entire jury’s resignation; Israeli artist says he was pleased that the jury quit after failing with ‘racist and discriminatory’ bid to exclude Israelis from awards
By AP and ToI Staff
Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova stands next to her 'Origami Deer' sculpture on the loading area of a transport vehicle in Prague on March 12, 2026 during a stopover in the Czech capital on its way to the Venice Biennale. (Michal Cizek / AFP)
April 30, 2026, 10:28 pm
Venice Biennale jury resigns after demanding, in vain, that Israel and Russia be excluded
Largest international art exhibition spurns 5-judge panel that had pledged not to consider works by nations whose leaders face ICC arrest warrants; awards postponed from May to November
By Agencies
A man running in front of a sign for the Venice Biennale in Italy in an undated photo. (Stefano Mazzola via Getty Images via JTA)
April 28, 2026, 9:57 am
Venice Biennale judges won’t consider Israel due to Netanyahu’s ICC arrest warrant
Artist and sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, representing Israel, says he believes ‘art thrives on openness’; Foreign Ministry: ‘Spectacle of false, anti-Israeli political indoctrination’
By Jackie Hajdenberg
South Africa's Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie (C) speaks as he attends a commemoration ceremony, for French individuals who fought against apartheid, with South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile and France’s President Emmanuel Macron at Freedom Park in Pretoria on November 21, 2025 ahead of the G20 leaders' Summit. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)
February 21, 2026, 3:34 am
South Africa pulls out of Venice Biennale after minister pans artist’s focus on Gaza
Gayton McKenzie, a staunch supporter of Israel, had alleged an unnamed foreign power wanted to use South Africa as ‘a proxy to endorse a geopolitical message about Israel’s actions in Gaza’
By Grace Gilson
Hundreds of demonstrators hold flags and pictures of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at a protest rally in Sydney on September 29, 2024. (Saeed KHAN / AFP)
February 17, 2025, 10:17 am
Lebanese-Australian artist dropped from 2026 Venice Biennale over Nasrallah imagery
Khaled Sabsabi removed from show after article singles out 2007 work featuring late Hezbollah terror leader; Sabsabi says he is ‘extremely hurt and disappointed’ by decision
By ToI Staff
Ruth Patir's works on exhibit at the 60th Venice Biennale, part of her '(M)otherland' artworks. (Courtesy of the artist and Braverman Gallery Tel Aviv)
December 7, 2024, 2:36 pm
Museum buys artist’s work after she shut Venice Biennale exhibit in call for hostage deal
New York’s Jewish Museum purchases Israeli artist Ruth Patir’s five-part video installation ‘(M)otherland,’ which will premiere at Tel Aviv Museum of Art in March
By Jessica Steinberg
Artist Ruth Patir (middle) with curators Tamar Margalit (left) and Mira Lapidot (right), who locked the doors of Patir's exhibit at 60th Venice Biennale, due to open April 20, 2024 (Courtesy Ella Barak)
April 16, 2024, 12:21 pm
Israeli artist shutters Venice Biennale pavilion in call for hostage and ceasefire deal
Artist Ruth Patir says she’ll open her exhibit, ‘(M)otherland,’ once an agreement has been reached to bring the hostages home and end the war in Gaza
By Jessica Steinberg
Visitors watch the "Field Hospital" installation by artist Aya Ben Ron on display at Israel's pavilion during the 58th Biennale of Arts exhibition in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, May 7, 2019. Political issues that excite newsprint, airwaves and social media, such as fake news, migration, poverty, global warming and armed conflict, are getting a very open airing at the 58th Venice Biennale contemporary art fair, which Saturday, May 11, and runs through Nov. 24, 2019.(AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
February 29, 2024, 6:36 am
Italy’s culture minister backs Israel after calls to exclude it from Venice Biennale
Gennaro Sangiuliano pushes back against open letter protesting Jewish state’s participation in art fair, saying it ‘has the duty to bear witness to its people’ after October 7
By Agencies and ToI Staff
A view shows 'Tunnel Boring Machine, 2022' by artist Teresa Solar, during a press day at the 59th Venice Art Biennale in Venice on April 19, 2022. (Vincenzo Pinto/AFP)
February 27, 2024, 7:19 pm
Thousands of artists ask Venice Biennale to exclude ‘genocidal’ Israel over Gaza war
Anti-Israel alliance calls any official representation of Israel on international cultural stage ‘an endorsement of its policies and of Gaza genocide’; no response from organizers
By Agencies and ToI Staff
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