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Venice Biennale Faces EU Backlash Over Kremlin-Tied Russian Pavilion
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A cross-party group of European lawmakers has urged Venice Biennale leaders to reverse Russia’s planned participation in the 2026 exhibition, according to Politico on March 26.
The two-page letter, signed by 26 members of the European Parliament and European Parliament vice presidents, argued that the decision raised “serious moral and political concerns” and would damage the Biennale’s reputation.
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In a letter addressed to Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the president and board of La Biennale di Venezia, the legislators wrote that allowing the Russian Federation to appear at the 61st International Art Exhibition was “unacceptable” and warned that the move risked lending legitimacy to a state waging war against Ukraine.
“We therefore call upon the leadership of La Biennale di Venezia to reconsider the participation of the Russian Federation in the 2026 edition of the exhibition,” the lawmakers noted.
The letter was signed by MEPs from several political groups, including Greens/EFA, Renew Europe, ECR, EPP, S&D, The Left, and a non-attached member, underscoring a broad political backlash inside the European Parliament.
They added that the Venice Biennale has historically stood for “freedom, dignity, and solidarity among nations” and urged its leadership to keep those principles at the center of its decisions.
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The officials also stated that Russia’s war had brought civilian deaths, destruction of cities and infrastructure, and systematic attacks on Ukraine’s cultural heritage, including museums, historical sites, cultural institutions, and works of art.
The intervention comes after the European Commission publicly condemned the Biennale’s decision and warned that it could suspend or terminate an ongoing $2.2 million grant if Russia is allowed to reopen its pavilion.
Commission officials have argued that cultural platforms in Europe must uphold democratic values and must not be used for propaganda.
Russia’s planned appearance at the 2026 Venice Biennale would mark the country’s first official participation in the exhibition since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The move has triggered opposition from lawmakers, EU officials, and cultural figures, who argue that Russia’s return risks turning one of Europe’s most prominent art forums into a platform for political normalization.
Critics have also highlighted the organizers of the Russian pavilion, noting that several artists, curators, and cultural managers involved maintain ties to Kremlin-connected elites.
The push has extended beyond politics. A petition signed by thousands of artists, curators, and cultural representatives has called on the Biennale to reverse its decision.
The backlash also coincides with efforts by the Biennale Foundation to justify Russia’s return as compliant with sanctions rules.
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The Biennale Foundation previously maintained that Russia’s return to the 2026 exhibition respected EU sanctions, adding that it had submitted all requested documentation to Italy’s Culture Ministry.
The ministry sought urgent clarification on whether pavilion logistics, materials, or financing could violate sanctions, while Minister Alessandro Giuli publicly faulted Gregoretti for handling the issue.
The dispute has deepened broader European opposition, with 22 countries urging that Russia be barred from the exhibition and the European Commission warning it could reconsider funding.
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