Overview
- Announcing its stance on Thursday, the five-member jury said it will not consider national pavilions from countries whose leaders face International Criminal Court charges, a policy that sidelines Russia and Israel from the Golden and Silver Lions.
- The European Commission confirmed on Thursday that it sent a letter to suspend or terminate a €2 million grant over Russia’s participation and gave the Biennale 30 days to respond before the funding is revoked.
- The Biennale Foundation said it cannot bar any country recognized by Italy from mounting a pavilion, noted the jury acts with full independence, and reiterated its rejection of cultural exclusion.
- Many artists in the main exhibition had urged the removal of Russia and Israel and welcomed the jury’s decision, which withholds prestigious recognition from those national teams without blocking their shows.
- The board appointed the Solange Farkas–led jury after curator Koyo Kouoh’s 2025 death, and the panel framed its stance as a human-rights commitment aligned with her In Minor Keys exhibition opening May 9.