61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia
The 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, also known as Biennale Arte 2026, is a major international exhibition of contemporary art held biennially in Venice, Italy. The 61st edition will take place from 9 May to 22 November 2026, with a pre-opening scheduled for 6–8 May 2026, followed by the official inauguration and awards ceremony on 9 May. The exhibition is primarily hosted at the historic venues of the Giardini della Biennale and the Arsenale, as well as at additional locations throughout Venice. Bringing together artists, curators, and national representatives from around the world, the exhibition serves as a significant platform for presenting developments in contemporary artistic practice and fostering global cultural exchange.
The 61st edition is curated by Koyo Kouoh under the title “In Minor Keys.”Kouoh defined the exhibition’s theoretical framework, selected the participating artists and artworks, determined the graphic and spatial design of the exhibition, and established dialogue with the invited participants. The exhibition is being completed by the curatorial team she assembled, including advisors Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Marie Hélène Pereira, and Rasha Salti, editor-in-chief Siddhartha Mitter, and research assistant Rory Tsapayi.
The exhibition will feature 111 invited participants, including individual artists, collaborative duos, collectives, and artist-led organizations from a wide range of geographical and cultural contexts. The theme “In Minor Keys” draws inspiration from musical terminology, in which minor keys are associated with emotional depth, complexity, and introspection rather than grandeur or spectacle. Within this curatorial framework, the exhibition encourages artists to explore quieter narratives, intimate experiences, and subtle cultural perspectives that exist outside dominant global discourses. Rather than privileging monumental gestures or dramatic statements, the exhibition foregrounds works that engage with themes such as memory, vulnerability, spirituality, and everyday life, inviting audiences to attend to layered meanings and nuanced forms of expression characterized by sensitivity and reflection.
Through these curatorial strategies, “In Minor Keys” ultimately seeks to challenge conventional hierarchies of visibility and value within the global art world. By foregrounding subtle, relational, and contemplative modes of artistic production, the exhibition emphasizes the importance of human