Last updated: May 2, 2026

한국어 안내는 영어 다음에 있습니다. / Korean follows English below.

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⚡ 단일 사건으로는 2026년 비엔날레 최대 뉴스 — 사상 처음 심사위원단 전원 사퇴 + 황금사자상 폐지 + 관객 투표제 전환. 개막 9일 전(4/30) 발생.

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English

Overview

For the first time in the Venice Biennale's history, the International Jury resigned en masse nine days before opening, and La Biennale abolished the traditional Golden Lion and Silver Lion awards, replacing them with two audience-voted Visitors' Lions. The award ceremony moved from the opening day (May 9) to the closing day (November 22).

Timeline

[April 22, 2026] International Jury announces that countries indicted by the ICC for crimes against humanity will be excluded from awards consideration. Russia and Israel are the directly affected national pavilions.

[April 30, 2026] All five jurors resign en masse following an Italian Ministry of Culture inspectors' visit. The jurors:

• Solange Oliveira Farkas (Chair, Brazil) — founder of Associação Cultural Videobrasil
• Zoe Butt (Vietnam/Australia) — art director, curator (formerly Sã Sã, San Art)
• Elvira Dyangani Ose (Spain) — director, MACBA Barcelona
• Marta Kuzma (USA/Poland) — dean, Yale School of Art
• Giovanna Zapperi (Italy) — art historian, professor, Université de Genève

[May 1, 2026] La Biennale formally abolishes the Golden Lion and Silver Lion awards for the 61st Edition, establishing two new Visitors' Lions (audience-voted):

1. Best Participant in the 61st Exhibition In Minor Keys by Koyo Kouoh
2. Best National Participation in the 61st Exhibition

Award ceremony moved from May 9 (opening) to November 22, 2026 (closing day).

Significance