Venice Biennale hit by protests and worker strikes

For the first time, Biennale workers went on strike on Friday over Russia's and Israel's presence at the kermesse, with twenty pavilions closed on the eve of the public opening.

Protests erupted in Venice on Friday over Israel’s participation in the 2026 Venice Biennale, as this year’s event continues to be heavily impacted by political demonstrations. The exhibition opened on Saturday without a jury after members resigned in protest over the participation of both

Venice Biennale opens in chaos after its international jury resigned to protest the inclusion of Israel and Russia. The 61st edition will proceed without the traditional Golden Lion awards, as organizers switch to a "Eurovision-style" public vote amid heavy security and protests.

Protests of Israel & Russia Rock Venice Biennale Opening: For the 1st time since 1895, the contemporary art festival opened without a ceremony, a jury, or its top prize amid protests over the participation of Russia & Israel. reporting by Alina Trabattoni www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cek...

Furious Protests at Venice Biennale Against Israel and Its 'Pariah Pavilion' pavilions closing in solidarity with strike, hostile brochures being distributed,demonstrators chanting 'from the river to the sea' while accusing Israel of 'genocide of Palestinians.' www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Art and politics clash at Venice Biennale, as world conflicts upstage exhibition's opening As protests, resignations and threatened legal action linked to Russia and Israel dominate the headlines in the lead-up to the Venice Biennale, a major exhibi... #cbc #cbc-top-stories #Canada

The Venice Biennale news headlines, protests, clashes, silencing, power struggles more than usual are a snapshot of the times. Reading art like reading tea leaves signals greater oppression on the horizon, and worryingly, a numbing instead of outrage when it occurs. Flooding the zone aftermath.

How political chaos engulfed the world’s glitziest art show This year’s Biennale faces boycotts, pro-Palestine protests and an en-masse jury resignation. Our critic takes stock in Venice. Gifted piece www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/54e755f...

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... Events such as the biennale offer legitimacy. They replace the thoughts of bombs and mass civilian deaths with the aura, as it might be, of Tuvan throat singing... Russia is a pariah state and we are becoming the same. Trump's whole regime must be prosecuted.

‘the basic structure of the biennale that we recognise today was conceived in the 1930s, under Mussolini … It was to the fascists …that encouraging as many different nations as possible to establish national pavilions became important.’

Venice Biennale opens amid ongoing protests after Russia, Israel row https://www.europesays.com/iran/105770/ The 61st Venice Biennale opened its doors on Saturday without a formal opening ceremony and overshadowed by controversy…

US allies anticipate Trump will withdraw more forces from Europe – The Irish Times https://www.europesays.com/iran/105387/ Main PointsKey ReadsIsrael’s artists face isolation at Venice Biennale and prepare for booing at EurovisionAer Lingus chief executive…

Feed: "Hyperallergic" By: Avedis Hadjian on Friday, May 8, 2026

The Sights of the Venice Biennale - The New York Times #USNews #Politics #NationalNews

Middle East Eye: Venice Biennale targeted by strike action and protests over Israel’s involvement https://braveneweurope.com/middle-east-eye-venice-biennale-targeted-by-strike-action-and-protests-over-israels-involvement