# Venice Biennale 2026 exhibition

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/venice-biennale-2026-exhibition
> Updated: 2026-10-25T11:03:00.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

The 61st Venice Biennale, themed ‘Minor Keys’, focuses on spirituality, fragility, memory, colonial violence, and ecological destruction. The exhibition aims to use art to foster new relationships and a return to natural habitats through a subtle and restrained approach.

The concept was developed by Koyo Kouoh, the Cameroonian-Swiss curator and former director of Zeitz MOCAA. Kouoh was the first African woman appointed as the artistic director of a Venice Biennale, but she passed away unexpectedly at age 57 just weeks before the opening. Her team implemented her vision to make the exhibition her legacy.

The event features works from approximately 110 artists worldwide, utilizing mediums such as large-scale installations, video, sound, and live performances. The exhibition is hosted across the national pavilions in the Giardini, the historic spaces of the Arsenale, and various locations throughout the city.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-25: Venice Biennale hosts 61st edition under theme In Minor Keys

The 61st Venice Biennale explores themes of memory, war, and loss under the title ‘In Minor Keys’, featuring diverse global artists across the Giardini and Arsenale.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venice-biennale-hosts-61st-edition-under-theme-in-minor-keys

### 2026-10-05: Venice Biennale 2026 adopts ‘Minor Keys’ theme

The 2026 Venice Biennale, titled ‘Minor Keys’, honors the legacy of late curator Koyo Kouoh, featuring works from 110 artists focused on spirituality, ecology, and memory.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venice-biennale-2026-adopts-minor-keys-theme

---
Cite as: Venice Biennale 2026 exhibition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/venice-biennale-2026-exhibition