Venice Biennale 2026, an edition marked by political tensions and debates over exclusions. (Credit: Venice Biennale)
The jury of the Venice International Art Biennale announced Thursday that it will not consider artists from countries whose leaders are currently being prosecuted by the International Criminal Court, a decision implicitly targeting Russia and Israel.
The five jurors, tasked with selecting the Golden and Silver Lions winners among the 110 participants, said they felt compelled to commit "to the defense of human rights" as part of their mission ahead of the event’s opening on May 9.
"This jury will refrain from considering candidates from countries whose leaders are currently prosecuted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court," they said in a statement, without explicitly naming the countries concerned.
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for sitting heads of state, including Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes committed against children in Ukraine, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the context of the war in Gaza.
The Israeli and Russian embassies in Rome did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Sharp criticism over the Russian pavilion
The event is facing mounting criticism following the organizers’ decision to allow the reopening of the Russian pavilion. After Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian artists and institutions had been excluded from many major European cultural events.
The move has triggered reactions both from the Italian government led by Giorgia Meloni — a staunch ally of Ukraine — and from the European Union.
On Thursday, the European Commission said it had sent a letter to the Biennale informing it of its intention to end or suspend a 2 million euro grant, following Russia’s reintegration.
"There is only one ongoing grant, worth 2 million euros over three years, and that is the one we are considering terminating or suspending," a spokesperson for the Commission said. The Biennale has 30 days to respond.
In a separate statement, organizers recalled that the jury operates "in full autonomy and independence," underscoring that this position is "a natural expression of the freedom and autonomy guaranteed by the Biennale."
It is worth noting that, in an open letter dated April 1, several leading international artists — including Lebanese artists Walid Raad, Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige — denounced the participation of "governments that actively commit war crimes, atrocities and genocide." They demanded not only the exclusion of Israel, but also of Russia and the United States, accusing them of acting as "predatory" powers.
