Iran Withdraws Pavilion From Venice Biennale
22May 5, 2026
The chaos swirling around the forthcoming 2026Venice Biennaleis showing no signs of slowing down: On Monday,in a statement, Biennale organizers announced that Iran had dropped out and would no longer be exhibiting its planned pavilion. The announcement comes mere days before the exhibition opens to the public, and amid a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran. Organizers offered no information as to why Iran had decided to bow out.
The biennale has been fraught with developments closely tied to globalpolitics. Russia’s much-protested pavilion will now beclosed to the publicand as of last week, all five members of the international jury that were given the responsibility of awarding the top prizes at the Biennaleresigned en masse. When the jury resigned on Thursday, they cited their April 22Statement of Intention, which made clear that any nations whose leaders have been accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court would not be eligible to receive awards at the biennale this year.
Adapting to the jury’s resignation, Biennale organizers announced that Golden and Silver Lions will not be awarded at the opening of the Biennale. Instead, Visitor Lions, determined by votes from Biennale attendees, will be presented at the close of the event. Russia and Israel, whom the resigning jury had excluded from the prize running, are eligible for the new prizes.