Iran’s Participation in the Venice Biennale Still Uncertain
12May 14, 2026
A public contradiction aboutIran’s participation in the 61stVenice Biennalehas emerged after Aydin Mahdizadeh Tehrani, the director general of visual arts at Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (MCIG), wasinterviewedby the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA). In the interview, Mahdizadeh Tehrani explained that Iran “neither submitted a withdrawal letter nor stated that we would not attend. Rather, we said we would participate and requested more time.”
This development follows anannouncementby the Biennale Foundation last week, which revealed thatIran would not participatein this year’s edition,In Minor Keysby Koyo Kouoh (9 May – 22 November 2026). No specific reason was given for the withdrawal.
In his comments to ISNA, Mahdizadeh Tehrani, who is listed as the Iranian Pavilion’s commissioner, said that the MCIG had sent a letter to the Biennale’s organizers on May 10, asking that the Iranian pavilion be opened, even if it is no longer eligible for any prizes. A response from the Biennale is expected in the next few days.
Mahdizadeh Tehrani noted that the US-Israel war with Iran had caused fluctuations in currency values which pushed projected costs to nearly triple the pavilion’s budget, complicating prior agreements with the Biennale. Tehran had previously attempted to renegotiate the terms of participation, proposing a shorter exhibition period of two or three months as opposed to the full seven month duration of the event. The Biennale’s organizers rejected this suggestion.
Iran has participated in the Biennale intermittently since 2003, including the most recent edition in 2024. Mahdizadeh Tehrani said that this incident outlined the need for Iran to develop and maintain a permanent presence at the Biennale. He added that the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “emphasized” the need for Iran’s participation this year, given current global events and the contentious situation at the Biennale itself, where the international jury resigned, national pavilions have withdrawn from awards consideration, and protests have taken place.