Biennale Arte 2026: must-see pavilions in Venice

The 61st Biennale Arte is a major event on the contemporary art calendar. This concise guide highlights noteworthy pavilions and installations, with an in-depth look at the Italian Pavilion curated by Cecilia Canziani featuring Chiara Camoni.

Italian Pavilion: Chiara Camoni's installation

Con te con tutto presents an initially dark, silent environment populated by 24 anthropomorphic figures made from natural and recycled materials such as stoneware, terracotta, herbs and plastic. Slightly larger than visitors, these sculptures produce a subtle sense of unease while avoiding monumental rhetoric.

A central element of the installation is the "disco-tornio," a performative area that merges music and communal pottery-making. The work is conceived as an evolving process: vessels and materials change over time, emphasizing continuous transformation and the shared role of artist, nature and community.

Other pavilions to watch

• Holy See – projects investigating symbolism and ritual through immersive forms.
• Austria and France – pavilions notable for material research and performative practices.
• Greece, Uzbekistan and Poland – contributions exploring identity, memory and collective processes.
• Belgium and Japan – experimental approaches to the relationship between object and exhibition space.

Practical tips for visitors

To make the most of your Biennale visit: book tickets in advance, allow at least half a day for the main venues, wear comfortable shoes and spend time with site-specific installations which often require slow observation.

The Biennale offers a window into evolving contemporary art practices: approaching works with attention and curiosity reveals their layered meanings.