61st International Art Exhibition, from 9 May to 22 November 2026, based on a project conceived by Koyo Kouoh, entitled “In Minor Keys”.
Biennale Arte 2026: “In Minor Keys”
The 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale runs from 9 May to 22 November 2026, at the Giardini, the Arsenale and several venues across the city.
Its title, “In Minor Keys” (“In a Minor Key”), draws on a musical concept. The exhibition was conceived by Cameroonian curator Koyo Kouoh, who died in May 2025 before the opening; with her family’s agreement, the Biennale chose to realize it as she had conceived it, with the team she had assembled.
The central exhibition brings together 110 participants (artists, duos, collectives). There are 100 national participations (29 at the Giardini, 25 at the Arsenale, 46 in the city), including seven countries present for the first time: Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Nauru, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Vietnam. In addition, there are 31 collateral events.
Reviews are mixed: ArtReview finds the exhibition seductive but a little conventional, while The Nation prefers several national pavilions to it. For practical visiting information, the history and how the event works, see the Venice Biennale page.
Sources and further information: Biennale Arte 2026, official page; The “In Minor Keys” exhibition; Biennale news; The Art Newspaper, Venice Biennale; NPR, 9 May 2026; ArtReview.