Where was the intellectual and visual magic? An introduction to the 2026 Venice Biennale

Editor’s note: Virginia Bradley started reporting on the Venice Biennale in 2024. Your can read her introductory article here. To find other articles, search Venice Biennale on The Edge. Venice is celebrating the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, running from Saturday, May 9, through Sunday, November 22, 2026. La Biennale di Venezia is one of the most prestigious events in the contemporary art world. Art lovers, curators, and gallerists travel from all over the world to attend this extraordinary event. The first Biennale was held in 1895 and featured artists from Italy and Germany. I first attended the Venice Biennale in 2007 when the American Curator Robert Storr was the Director of the exhibition (and the first American to be tapped for the position). The theme of the 52nd Venice Biennale was “Think with the Senses, Feel with the Mind: Art in the Present Tense”.

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