Biennale Arte

The 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, titled In Minor Keys after the curatorial project of Koyo Kouoh, runs from 9 May to 22 November 2026 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and venues across Venice. After Kouoh’s death in May 2025, La Biennale proceeded with the exhibition she had already shaped, realised with the team she assembled. National pavilions and collateral events extend the reading beyond the central show, which makes Venice a long-season appointment rather than a weekend fair trip. In the Giardini, the first Korea–Japan pavilion collaboration and Hong Kong’s Fermata collateral near the Arsenale give Asian presentations unusual weight this edition.

Stay in Castello if you want the Giardini at opening without a glamorous lobby tax. Give the Giardini one day and the Arsenale another; the walk between them is pleasant until you add heat, a collateral show and a 15:00 pavilion you will miss. Mondays are closed except a handful of published dates, so do not build a Monday masterpiece itinerary. Buy timed tickets on labiennale.org, check which national pavilions keep shorter hours, and keep one vaporetto ride in reserve for when your feet refuse another stone floor. Fermata, Hong Kong’s collateral near the Arsenale, is an easy add on the Arsenale day if you are already in Castello.