Venice Biennale Arte 2026: four pavilions to visit

Venice Biennale Arte 2026: four pavilions to visit

The 61st International Art Exhibition runs in Venice from 9 May to 22 November 2026. If your visit is limited, the following pavilions provide representative experiences of the exhibition’s themes and formats.

Recommended pavilions

• Belgium Pavilion (Giardini) – A participatory installation by Miet Warlop titled IT NEVER SSST. The work mixes scenography and live performance, with performers engaging the public in collective dance moments for a sensory, social experience.

• Lebanon Pavilion (Arsenale) – Don’t Get Me Wrong by Nabil Nahas, curated by Nada Ghandour. A 45-meter frieze of 26 panels that evokes Persian miniatures and explores nature, cosmos and geometric abstraction in an immersive setting.

• Sierra Leone Pavilion – Making its official debut with Mondi Presenti, a group exhibition featuring artists from Sierra Leone and beyond that examines identity through a plurality of languages. Curated by Sandro Orlandi Stagl and Willy Montini.

• Italy Pavilion – Con te con tutto by Chiara Camoni, curated by Cecilia Canziani. The installation converts the pavilion into a "forest" of 24 terracotta and ceramic figures, set in a twilight atmosphere that encourages slowness and wonder.

Practical tips

• Dates: 09/05/2026 – 22/11/2026. Check official opening hours and the performance schedule before you go.

• Time needed: Allow at least half a day to move between Giardini and Arsenale and see the main pavilions without rushing.

• Live events: Some works require audience participation or are staged at specific times; consult the program so you don’t miss live events.

• How to prepare: Note the artists’ and curators’ names to follow recurring themes and deepen your visit.

Location

Address: Calle Larga Rosa, 77, 30122 Venice VE, Italy. Plan routes between Giardini and Arsenale and use local maps to optimize your visit.