Venice Biennale: EU raises the tone against Russias announced return

The European Union threatens the famous Italian contemporary art event with sanctions.

The European Union will impose sanctions if the Venice Biennale does not reverse its decision to allow Russia to participate in its international contemporary art exhibition, warned European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen on Tuesday, March 10. If the Biennale maintains its decision, “we will consider additional measures, including the suspension or cancellation of a European subsidy,” currently benefiting the Biennale Foundation, she declared in a statement, strongly condemning this initiative.

“Culture promotes and protects democratic values, encourages open dialogue, diversity, and freedom of expression, and should never be used as a platform for propaganda,” she emphasized.

Ukraine urged the organizers of the Venice Biennale on Sunday not to allow Russia’s participation, which is set to return in May, for the first time since the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Biennale had banned the participation of anyone associated with the Russian government in 2022, in protest against Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia was also absent from the following edition in 2024.

It is finally set to participate in the 2026 edition, taking place from May 9 to November 22, under the direction of Pietrangelo Buttafuoco who assumed his role in March 2024.