Venice Biennale jury bars artists from countries led by accused war criminals

The five-member jury assigned to Venice’s top art prize resigned after setting off a diplomatic storm by saying it would not consider artists from countries whose leaders are charged by the International Criminal Court. The move, widely understood to point at Russia and Israel, thrust the 61st Venice Biennale into the same geopolitical disputes already shadowing its opening.

The jury, selected by curator Koyo Kouoh, had announced on April 23 that it was acting in defense of human rights. Its mandate was to choose the Golden and Silver Lion awards from among 110 invited participants at the 61st International Art Exhibition, titled In Minor Keys, which is scheduled to run from May 9 to November 22, 2026. The awards ceremony and inauguration are set for May 9 in Venice.

The decision landed in a Biennale already under pressure over Russia’s return to the event after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That choice drew criticism from the Italian government and the European Union. On April 23, the European Commission said it had sent La Biennale di Venezia a letter warning that a 2 million euro grant could be terminated or suspended, and gave the institution 30 days to respond. The dispute exposed how closely the Biennale’s cultural standing is now tied to Europe’s broader response to the war in Ukraine.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused the jury of politicizing the exhibition and described the move as a boycott of Israeli sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, who is representing Israel this year. At the same time, the Art Not Genocide Alliance circulated a letter last month arguing that Israel should be excluded, and the letter was signed by almost 200 artists, curators and cultural workers connected to Biennale projects. The clash left the jury between competing demands: preserve artistic autonomy, or impose a political standard on participation.

The jury resigned on April 30 and issued a brief statement saying only that the members had stepped down as of that date and referring back to their earlier statement of intention. The abrupt exit leaves the Biennale facing the question it tried to avoid: whether a global cultural showcase can still claim neutrality when national identity and accusations against state leaders have become part of the judging itself.