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. Autumn hours are now in force through closing day: 10:00 to 18:00, last admission 17:45. Mondays are closed except 16 November. The summer late nights at the Arsenale are over.

Stay in Castello if you want the Giardini at the 10:00 opening without a glamorous lobby tax. Give the Giardini one day and the Arsenale another. The walk between them is pleasant until you add rain, a collateral show and a 15:00 pavilion you will miss. Buy timed tickets on labiennale.org and check which national pavilions keep shorter hours. Keep one vaporetto ride in reserve for when your feet refuse another stone floor. Fermata is an easy add on the Arsenale day if you are already in Castello. Forte Marghera follows the same autumn hours. Two principal days still beat one heroic loop. A third day is only useful if a specific pavilion or island show earned it. Do not build a Monday masterpiece itinerary unless it is 16 November.