A Pussy Riot protest at the Venice Biennale forced the Russian pavilion to briefly close, marking the first public protest since Russia’s return to the exhibition.

On April 30, 2026, the entire jury of the Venice Biennale resigned just nine days before the inauguration of the prestigious art event, amid growing tensions over Russia’s return to the exhibition for the first time since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Resignation

In a brief statement, the jury said it was acting in accordance with its previous decision not to consider countries “whose leaders are currently charged with crimes against humanity” for any prizes — meaning Russia and Israel would be excluded from prize consideration.

The Biennale showcases art from around the world in dozens of national pavilions. The awards ceremony, originally scheduled for May 9, has now been cancelled. Visitors will instead vote for their favourite pavilions.

Russia’s Return Sparks Political Firestorm

The Biennale has been at the centre of controversy for weeks. The dramatic announcement came the day after a delegation from Italy’s culture ministry visited Venice to gather information about the reopening of the Russian pavilion — a move that had already led the culture minister himself to declare a boycott of the event.

Earlier in April, the EU announced it was withdrawing a €2 million grant over Russia’s return to the Biennale, deeming it “morally wrong” as Moscow “seeks to erase Ukrainian culture” as part of its invasion.

The Biennale has previously stressed that it is open to everyone and “rejects any form of exclusion or censorship.” It argued that it could not bar Russia from participating in any case, as the country owns its pavilion.

Historical Context

In 2022, after Russia launched its war against Ukraine, the curator and artists involved in the Russian pavilion withdrew in protest against Vladimir Putin and his invasion, leaving the pavilion empty. In 2024, Russia handed the space over to Bolivia.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin, alleging he is responsible for war crimes. Moscow has denied the allegations and labelled the warrants “outrageous.”

For Russia, appearing at the Venice Biennale again would represent a significant boost to the normalization it covets, even as its invasion of Ukraine continues to claim lives daily. Over the past four years, numerous Ukrainian museums and cultural heritage sites have been destroyed, art has been looted by invading troops, and hundreds of artists have been killed in the fighting.

Reactions

Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, said allowing Russia to take part “is a decision not shared by the government.” However, she added that the Biennale was autonomous and its president “very capable.”

Italy’s culture ministry is believed to be investigating whether Russia’s return to the art fair violates any sanctions. This year, the Russian team is due to exhibit a sound performance called The Tree is Rooted in the Sky, although some reports have suggested public access might be restricted.

Israel’s foreign ministry previously commented that the decision to exclude the country from possible prizes was “a contamination of the art world.” In 2024, ICC judges issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defence minister.

Source: BBC News - Venice Biennale jury resigns days before start of exhibition