Biennale Arte 2026: practical guide to 25 must-see exhibitions in Venice

Biennale Arte 2026: practical guide to 25 must-see exhibitions in Venice

The 61st Biennale Arte turns Venice into a dispersed exhibition network: beyond the central exhibition, museums, galleries and independent spaces present projects that expand the official program. This guide gathers 25 selected events with venue details, dates and practical advice to help you plan your visit.

• Ca' Rezzonico - Museo del Settecento Veneziano — “I Guardi di Calouste Gulbenkian”, from 7 March to 8 June 2026. Ten vedute by Francesco Guardi (circa 1770–1790) returned to Venice to set up a dialogue between oil paintings and the city's drawings collections; the display highlights the atmospheric brushwork and subjective perspective of his late works.
• Casa dei Tre Oci — “Joseph Kosuth. A Chain of Resemblance”, until 22 November 2026. A large-scale intervention inspired by philosophical texts tracing the artist’s focus on language: historical works, installations and posters that question the ties between word, image and public space.
• Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa — “Picasso, Morandi, Parmiggiani. Still Lifes”, 7 May - 25 July 2026. A dialogue between three approaches to still life, organized with international collaboration: the exhibition examines how objects are reinterpreted in the studio to address representation and memory.
• Fondazione Bvlgari at the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana — exhibitions starting 9 March 2026. Site-specific installations and contemporary interventions conceived for the library and museum context of the Marciana.

The selection covers varied media and venues—historic museums, private spaces and pop-up institutions—to suggest thematic alternatives to the central pavilion. To make the most of a day in Venice, keep a few practical pointers in mind:

• Plan your route: group visits by neighborhood (Dorsoduro, San Marco, Giudecca) to minimize vaporetto transfers.
• Check opening times and closures: some venues may have extended hours or exceptional closures during the Biennale period.
• Buy tickets in advance: for high-demand shows, online booking helps avoid long queues.
• Allow transit time: water transport takes longer at peak times and on weekends; factor in extra minutes between stops.

This guide is intended as a practical tool for exploring contemporary production and the collateral events around the Biennale. For detailed information on each exhibition, consult the hosting venue’s official schedule and verify any program updates.