Venice Biennale: Pavilions close in protest over Israel inclusion
Venice Biennale: Pavilions close in protest over Israel inclusion
Protests erupt as about a dozen pavilions shutter at the Venice Biennale on the eve of opening, amid calls to bar Israel from the exhibition in solidarity with Palestine.
On the last day of the preview, a strike organized by Anga led to about a dozen pavilions closing or partially closing in protest over Israel's participation in the 2026 Venice Biennale. Among those affected were the Belgian, Dutch, Austrian, Japanese, Macedonian and Korean pavilions, with some remaining shut for the day. The British, Spanish, French, Egyptian, Finnish and Luxembourg entries either opened and closed early or closed and then reopened, often around 4 pm, creating confusion on the eve of public access.
Artists taking part in the main show In Minor Keys showed solidarity by incorporating references to Palestine into their works. Palestine flags were hung at times and posters outside read messages of support, including declarations of solidarity with Palestine.
The Israeli pavilion was closed in the morning due to a private event, illustrating how the political tensions surrounding the exhibition have spilled into daily operations. The strike was organized by Anga, which had at one point projected that more than 20 pavilions would shutter to push for Israel's exclusion from the event because of the Gaza war. The press preview occurred a day before the general public opening, underscoring how geopolitics has framed this year’s edition.
This edition of the world’s most prestigious art biennale continues to unfold amid ongoing debates about art and politics, positioning the Venice venue as a focal point for conversations that reach far beyond the gallery walls.
