Highlights from the 2026 Venice Biennale

The 61st Venice Biennale officially opened in Venice on May 14, 2026, under the theme *‘In Minor Keys,’* curated by Koyo Kouoh. Gabrielle Goliath’s *‘Elegy’* (2015–ongoing), a multi-channel video installation, was relocated to Chiesa di Sant’Antonin after South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture canceled her pavilion in January 2026. The work features seven women singing a single tone for an hour, commemorating victims of racial and sexualized violence, including Palestinian poet Heba Abunada and South African student Ipeleng Christine Moholane. The installation’s fifth screen remains empty, symbolizing a *‘specter of genocide’* and inviting future performances. Goliath’s exhibition, presented independently with support from Ibraaz, includes a public reading of *‘Broken Ghazal, Before Balfour’* by George Abraham, alongside a new *‘Elegy Reader’* compiling texts from South Africa, Palestine, Lebanon, and beyond. Lithuania’s pavilion, *‘animism sings anarchy’* by Eglė Budvytytė, opened at Fucina del Futuro on May 9. Budvytytė’s work explores anarchic themes, drawing from her 2017 performance *‘Liquid Power Has No Shame’* at the Lofoten International Art Festival. The Biennale also features collateral exhibitions across Venice, expanding on its central theme of quiet resistance and marginalized voices. Goliath’s project reflects broader tensions between artistic freedom and political censorship, particularly regarding Gaza. The Chiesa di Sant’Antonin’s intimate setting contrasts with the Biennale’s usual crowded venues, offering a space for reflection. The event runs through November 2026, with exhibitions addressing global conflicts through experimental art and poetry.