After the sudden and tragic passing of curator Koyo Kouoh, it was unclear whether or not the 2026 Venice Biennale would go forward and, if that’s the case, whether or not it will nonetheless mirror her imaginative and prescient. Finally, the organizing physique selected to maneuver forward with Kouoh’s curatorial idea “as she designed it, as she imagined it,” president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco stated at a Might 2025 press convention. At this time (Feb. 25), La Biennale introduced the 111 artists who will participate within the 61st version of the longest-running and most essential worldwide exhibition. The checklist is really international and expansive, with names well-known in worldwide artwork circles, significantly throughout the institutional system, alongside extra regionally rooted pioneers. But the previous are notably extra prominently represented, suggesting “In Minor Keys” will lean much less towards marginal or traditionally missed voices exterior the system and extra firmly towards the up to date artwork discourse of the current second.
Whereas the choice leans visibly towards institutional, socially engaged and research-based practices, lots of the included artists are represented by established galleries and keep an energetic presence within the industrial ecosystem. And though all through her profession Kouoh tirelessly championed African artists—changing into the primary lady from the continent chosen to curate the Venice Biennale—the checklist of 2026 Biennale artists displays a extra balanced and globally distributed constellation of voices, positioning the continent as an integral presence inside a wider interconnected area of discourse addressing shared considerations. As for historic figures, the Biennale will have fun the insurgent genius of Marcel Duchamp in what’s shaping as much as be an particularly high-profile 12 months for the avant-garde artist, with main surveys scheduled on the Museum of Trendy Artwork and the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork.
The 2026 Venice Biennale artists will every reply to Kouoh’s “In Minor Keys”—an idea carried ahead by the multicultural staff of advisors who labored carefully along with her from the outset, together with curators Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Marie Hélène Pereira and Rasha Salti, critic and editor-in-chief Siddhartha Mitter and assistant Rory Tsapayi. Kouoh had already submitted a full and complete proposal earlier than her dying, writing in her curatorial essay that the exhibition she envisioned was going to be “a polyphonous meeting of artwork… convening and communing in convivial collectivity, beaming throughout the void of alienation and the crackle of battle.” She additionally clarified that the 2026 Biennale can be “neither a litany of commentary on world occasions, nor an escape from compounding or constantly intersecting crises.”
What to anticipate from “In Minor Keys”
Because the musically impressed title suggests, the curatorial framework for the upcoming version of the biennial guarantees intimate and introspective moments of listening, contemplation and change, encouraging a type of embodied transpersonal understanding able to countering the overwhelming overstimulation and saturation of our time. In accordance with Rasha Salti, Kouoh envisioned a Biennale that “refuses orchestral bombast,” rejecting each the grandiosity of main international artwork occasions and society’s performative behaviors in favor of a name to decelerate—to “take a deep breath. Exhale. Drop your shoulders. And shut your eyes.”
“The artists are channels to the minor keys,” stated curatorial staff member Rory Tsapayi through the announcement press convention, describing them as a collective rating composed of practices working on the boundaries of kind. “These are artists whose practices seamlessly bleed into society.” Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo emphasised that the construction is “not abstractly decided… it’s not organised in sections however in respect to undercurrent priorities.” The exhibition will unfold throughout thematic strands spanning the Arsenale and the Giardini: Shrines, Procession/Invocation, Faculties, Enchantment, Bodily and Non secular Relaxation, the Threshold and the Creole Backyard. Within the Central Pavilion, “The Shrines” will create a suspended, sanctuary-like area, paying tribute to the late Senegalese artist Issa Samb and the late African American artist Beverly Buchanan.
Artists whose work resonates with the motif of Procession/Invocation embody Nick Cave, Alvaro Barrington, Daniel Lind-Ramos, Ebony G. Patterson, Johannes Phokela, Tammy Nguyen and Kenya’s Kaloki Nyamai. “Guests are invited to turn into a part of these assemblies,” stated curator Marie Hélène Pereira, underscoring the participatory dimension of this strand. “The Faculties” part will foreground collective practices and organizations devoted to sustaining creative networks, together with the Nairobi Up to date Artwork Institute, the G.A.S. Basis in Lagos based by Yinka Shonibare and Denniston Hill in New York State. It displays an strategy that’s changing into more and more widespread amongst artists, significantly in rising scenes, as a solution to face up to the pressures of world circuits. “Efficiency and innovation” is one other key curatorial thread, however there may even be area for extra immaterial types of artwork. Drawing inspiration from Kouoh’s Poetry Caravan, a 1999 voyage of 9 African poets that she curated, a procession of poets will happen within the Giardini. “Poetry was to her the guiding mild of curatorial gesture,” stated Salti.
Particular point out through the announcement convention was given to {the catalogue}, which is able to deliberately spotlight a “collaborative mode of constructing,” as Siddhartha Mitter defined. Every artist will likely be featured in a four-page unfold together with sketches and images foregrounding studio areas and dealing processes.
“I’m drained. Persons are drained. We’re all drained. The world is drained. Even artwork itself is drained,” wrote Kouoh in a 2022 textual content—proof that she had lengthy been conscious of the necessity for a shift in how artwork is produced, circulated and skilled whether it is to retain impression in right this moment’s world. This was one thing she sought to pursue with this Biennale. “Maybe the time has come. We’d like one thing else,” she wrote. “We have to heal. We have to chortle. We have to be with magnificence, and plenty of it. We have to play, we have to be with poetry. We have to be with love once more. We have to dance. We have to relaxation and restore. We have to breathe. We’d like the radicality of pleasure. The time has come.”
“Can an exhibition on the size of the Biennale provide a spot to relaxation your physique?” Rory Tsapayi requested through the convention, explaining how sure sections and clusters purpose to create area for collective rituals of contemplation and embodied reconnection. Works by Wangechi Mutu, Otobong Nkanga, Carsten Höller and Sandra Knecht within the Creole Backyard will assist generate relational and non secular currents between people and different species.
With its concentrate on socially engaged and research-driven practices oriented towards a transpersonal dialog, the 2026 Venice Biennale guarantees to set the tone for broader collective reflection on the state of human existence in relation to all the things else at this stage of civilization, encouraging shared practices of reflection and reconnection between people and the bigger wholes to which they belong.
The total checklist of 2026 Venice Biennale artists
Pio Abad
Born 1983 in Manila, Philippines. Lives in London, U.Okay.
Philip Aguirre y Otegui
Born 1961 in Schoten, Belgium. Lives in Antwerp, Belgium.
Akinbode Akinbiyi
Born 1946 in Oxford, U.Okay. Lives in Berlin, Germany.
Laurie Anderson
Born 1947 in Chicago, IL, USA. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Fabrice Aragno
Born 1970 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Lives in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Nancy Brooks Brody
Born 1962 in New York Metropolis, NY, USA. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Pleasure Episalla
Born 1957 in Bronxville, NY, USA. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Zoe Leonard
Born 1961 in Liberty, NY, USA. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Carrie Yamaoka
Born 1957 in Glen Cove, NY, USA. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Jo-ey Tang
Born 1978 in Hong Kong, China. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Kader Attia
Born 1970 in Dugny, France. Lives in Berlin, Germany and Paris, France.
Sammy Baloji
Born 1978 in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lives in Brussels, Belgium and Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ranti Bam
Born 1985 in Lagos, Nigeria. Lives in Paris, France and Lagos, Nigeria.
Alvaro Barrington
Born 1983 in Caracas, Venezuela. Lives in London, U.Okay.
Éric Baudelaire
Born 1973 in Salt Lake Metropolis, UT, USA. Lives in Paris, France.
Sabian Baumann
Born 1962 in Zug, Switzerland. Lives in Zurich, Switzerland.
Beverly Buchanan
Born 1940 in Fuquay, NC, U.S.A. Lives in the united statesA.
Seyni Awa Camara
Born 1945 in Oussouy, Senegal. Lives in Senegal.
Nick Cave
Born 1959 in Chicago, IL, U.S.A. Lives in Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
Carolina Caycedo
Born 1978 in London, U.Okay. Lives in Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. and Caguas, Puerto Rico.
Annalee Davis
Born 1963 in St. Michael, Barbados. Lives in St. George, Barbados.
BuBu de la Madeleine
Born 1961 in Osaka, Japan. Lives in Nara, Japan.
Daybreak DeDeaux
Born 1952 in New Orleans, LA, U.S.A. Lives in New Orleans, LA, U.S.A.
Nolan Oswald Dennis
Born 1988 in Lusaka, Zambia. Lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Bonnie Devine
Born 1952 in Toronto, Canada. Lives in Toronto, Canada.
Godfried Donkor
Born 1964 in Accra, Ghana. Lives in London, U.Okay. and Accra, Ghana.
Marcel Duchamp
Born 1887 in Blainville-Crevon, France. Lives in France.
Edouard Duval-Carrié
Born 1954 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Lives in Miami, FL, U.S.A.
Torkwase Dyson
Born 1973 in Chicago, IL, USA. Lives in Beacon, NY, U.S.A.
rana elnemr
Born 1974 in Hannover, Germany. Lives in Cairo, Egypt.
Theo Eshetu
Born 1958 in London, U.Okay. Lives in Berlin, Germany and Rome, Italy.
Rachel Fallon
Born 1971 in Dublin, Eire. Lives in Dublin, Eire.
Sofía Gallisá Muriente
Born 1986 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lives in Puerto Rico.
Adebunmi Gbadebo
Born 1992 in Livingston, NJ, U.S.A. Lives in Philadelphia, PA, USA and Newark, NJ, U.S.A.
Leonilda González
Born 1923 in Minuano, Uruguay. Lives in Uruguay.
Linda Goode Bryant
Born 1949 in Columbus, OH, U.S.A. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Joana Hadjithomas
Born 1969 in Beirut, Lebanon. Lives in Beirut, Lebanon and Paris, France.
Khalil Joreige
Born 1969 in Moussaitbeh, Lebanon. Lives in Beirut, Lebanon and Paris, France.
Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka
Born 1988 in Toronto, Canada. Lives in Toronto, Canada, New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A. and Japan.
Ayrson Heráclito
Born 1968 in Macaúbas, Bahia, Brazil. Lives in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Clarissa Herbst
Born 1959 in Crailsheim, Germany. Lives in Zurich, Switzerland.
Dominique Rust
Born 1960 in Basel, Switzerland. Lives in Zurich, Switzerland.
Nicholas Hlobo
Born 1975 in Cape City, South Africa. Lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Carsten Höller
Born 1961 in Brussels, Belgium. Lives in Stockholm, Sweden, Biriwa, Ghana and Tuscany, Italy.
Sohrab Hura
Born 1981 in Chinsurah, India. Lives in New Delhi, India.
Alfredo Jaar
Born 1965 in Santiago, Chile. Lives in Lisbon, Portugal.
Mohammed Joha
Born 1978 in Gaza, Palestine. Lives in Marseille, France.
Michael Joo
Born 1966 in Ithaca, NY, U.S.A. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Nina Katchadourian
Born 1968 in Stanford, CA, U.S.A. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A. and Berlin, Germany.
Bodys Isek Kingelez
Born 1948 in Kimbembele Ihunga, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lives in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sandra Knecht
Born 1968 in Buus, Switzerland. Lives in Buus, Switzerland.
Marcia Kure
Born 1970 in Kano State, Nigeria. Lives in Princeton, NJ, USA, Abuja and Kaduna, Nigeria.
Natalia Lassalle-Morillo
Born 1991 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Florence Lazar
Born 1966 in Paris, France. Lives in Paris, France.
Dan Lie
Born 1988. Lives in Berlin, Germany.
Werewere Liking
Born 1950 in Mgombas, Cameroon. Lives in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Daniel Lind-Ramos
Born 1953 in Loiza, Puerto Rico. Lives in Loiza, Puerto Rico.
Alice Maher
Born 1956 in Tipperary, Eire. Lives in County Mayo, Eire.
Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons
Born 1959 in Matanzas, Cuba. Lives in Nashville, TN, U.S.A.
Kamaal Malak
Born 1962 in Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. Lives in Nashville, TN, U.S.A.
Senzeni Marasela
Born 1977 in Thokoza, South Africa. Lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Guadalupe Maravilla
Born 1976 in San Salvador, El Salvador. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Manuel Mathieu
Born 1986 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Lives in Montreal, Canada and Paris, France.
Georgina Maxim
Born 1980 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Lives in Harare and Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Tiona Nekkia McClodden
Born 1981 in Blytheville, AR, U.S.A. Lives in Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.
Massive Chief Demond Melancon
Born 1978 in New Orleans, LA, U.S.A. Lives in New Orleans, LA, U.S.A.
Avi Mograbi
Born 1956 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Lives in Lisbon, Portugal.
Wangechi Mutu
Born 1972 in Nairobi, Kenya. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A. and Nairobi, Kenya.
Eustaquio Neves
Born 1955 in Juatuba, Brazil. Lives in Diamantina, Brazil.
Tuấn Andrew Nguyễn
Born 1976 in Sài Gòn, Việt Nam. Lives in Hội An, Việt Nam.
Tammy Nguyen
Born 1984 in San Francisco, CA, U.S.A. Lives in Easton, CT, U.S.A.
Otobong Nkanga
Born 1974 in Kano, Nigeria. Lives in Antwerp, Belgium and Uyo, Nigeria.
Kaloki Nyamai
Born 1985 in Nairobi, Kenya. Lives in Nairobi, Kenya.
Temitayo Ogunbiyi
Born 1984 in Rochester, NY, U.S.A. Lives in Lagos, Nigeria.
Pauline Oliveros
Born 1932 in Houston, TX, U.S.A. Lives within the USA.
Kambui Olujimi
Born 1976 in Brooklyn, New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Hagar Ophir
Born 1983 in Jerusalem. Lives in Berlin, Germany.
Uriel Orlow
Born 1973 in Zurich, Switzerland. Lives in Lisbon, Portugal, London, U.Okay. and Basel, Switzerland.
Ebony G. Patterson
Born 1981 in Kingston, Jamaica. Lives in Kingston, Jamaica and Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
Rajni Perera
Born 1985 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Lives in Toronto, Canada.
Marigold Santos
Born 1981 in Manila, Philippines. Lives in Calgary, Canada.
Thania Petersen
Born 1980 in Cape City, South Africa. Lives in Cape City, South Africa.
Alan Phelan
Born 1968 in Dublin, Eire. Lives in Dublin, Eire.
Johannes Phokela
Born 1966 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Léonard Pongo
Born 1988 in Liège, Belgium. Lives in Brussels, Belgium and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Walid Raad
Born 1967 in Chbanieh, Lebanon. Lives in Medusa, NY, U.S.A.
Mohammed Z. Rahman
Born 1997 in London, U.Okay. Lives in London, U.Okay.
Tabita Rezaire
Born 1989 in Paris, France. Lives in Cayenne, French Guiana.
Guadalupe Rosales
Born 1980 in Redwood Metropolis, CA, U.S.A. Lives in Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Yo-E Ryou
Born 1987 in Seoul, South Korea. Lives in Seoul and Jeju Island, South Korea.
Khaled Sabsabi
Born 1965 in Tripoli, Lebanon. Lives in Sydney, Australia.
Rose Salane
Born 1992 in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Issa Samb
Born 1945 in Dakar, Senegal. Lives in Senegal.
Amina Saoudi Aït Khay
Born 1955 in Casablanca, Morocco. Lives in Sousse, Tunisia.
Carrie Schneider
Born 1979 in Chicago, IL, U.S.A. Lives in New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Hala Schoukair
Born 1957 in Beirut, Lebanon. Lives in Beirut, Lebanon.
Berni Searle
Born 1964 in Cape City, South Africa. Lives in Cape City, South Africa.
Mmakgabo Mmapula Helen Sebidi
Born 1943 in Marapyane, South Africa. Lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Wardha Shabbir
Born 1987 in Lahore, Pakistan. Lives in Lahore, Pakistan.
Yoshiko Shimada
Born 1959 in Tokyo, Japan. Lives in Chiba, Japan.
Himali Singh Soin
Born 1987 in New Delhi, India. Lives in London, U.Okay. and New Delhi, India.
David Soin Tappeser
Born 1985 in Bonn, Germany. Lives in London, U.Okay. and New Delhi, India.
Buhlebezwe Siwani
Born 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Lives in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Cape City, South Africa.
Cauleen Smith
Born 1967 in Riverside, CA, U.S.A. Lives in Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Vera Tamari
Born 1944 in Jerusalem, Palestine. Lives in Ramallah, Palestine.
Tsai Ming-liang
Born 1957 in Kuching, Malaysia. Lives in New Taipei Metropolis and Taipei, Taiwan.
Victoria-Idongesit Udondian
Born 1982 in Uyo, Nigeria. Lives in Lagos, Nigeria and New York Metropolis, NY, U.S.A.
Celia Vásquez Yui
Born 1960 in Pucallpa, Peru. Lives in Pucallpa, Peru.
Kemang Wa Lehulere
Born 1984 in Cape City, South Africa. Lives in Cape City, South Africa.
Kennedy Yanko
Born 1988 in St. Louis, MO, U.S.A. Lives in Miami, FL, U.S.A.
Raed Yassin
Born 1979 in Beirut, Lebanon. Lives in Beirut, Lebanon and Berlin, Germany.
Sawangwongse Yawnghwe
Born 1971 in Shan State, Myanmar. Lives in Zutphen, Netherlands and Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Billie Zangewa
Born 1973 in Blantyre, Malawi. Lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Extra in Artwork Gala’s, Biennials and Triennials
