Italy: 61st Venice Biennale opens amid political controversy over participation of Russia, Israel.

SHOTLIST: VENICE, ITALY (MAY 9, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF ART PIECES ON DISPLAY VENICE, ITALY - MAY 9, 2026: The Venice Biennale opened on Saturday, May 9, amid political controversy and protests over the participation of Russia and Israel. Bringing together artists and national pavilions from around the world in Venice’s Arsenale district, the exhibition opened its doors to visitors under the shadow of ongoing debates over cultural and political representation. The Venice Biennale in Italy was disrupted Friday as protests over Israel’s participation led several national pavilions to temporarily close, according to local media reports. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said the protests were “legitimate,” while Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini was expected to attend events at the exhibition. Meanwhile, the Israeli pavilion at the Arsenale remained under tight security as small groups of protesters gathered nearby. The Israel Observatory condemned the closures as “unacceptable,” describing them as an attack on cultural dialogue. Earlier in the day, several national pavilions, including those of the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and Austria, temporarily closed in protest. The Czech Republic pavilion also shut its doors in the morning. Protesters gathered on Via Garibaldi near the Giardini area, with organizers estimating more than 1,000 participants, while police placed the figure at around 500. Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, leaving the territory’s 2.4 million people on the verge of starvation. The Israeli army launched a brutal two-year offensive on Gaza in October 2023, killing more than 72,000 people, injuring over 172,000 others, and causing widespread devastation across the besieged enclave. Reporting by Michael Eel / Writing by Ayse Elif Erdis