Russia ’s participation in the next edition of the Venice Biennale ignites a new front of institutional tension between Brussels and the Foundation that organizes the historic event. In fact, the European Commission has said it could suspend or withdraw funding for the Biennale if the presence of the Russian pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition scheduled for 2026 is confirmed.
The position was expressed in a joint statement by European Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen and European Commissioner for Culture Glenn Micallef. The two representatives of the EU executive openly criticized the Biennial Foundation’s decision to allow Russia to reopen its national pavilion, marking the country’s possible return to the event for the first time since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The communiqué also stressed the role of culture as a tool for promoting democratic values, dialogue and freedom of expression. For this reason, according to the commissioners, cultural institutions should not be used as platforms for political propaganda.
In the statement, the European commissioners say they “strongly condemn the decision of the Fondazione Biennale to allow Russia to reopen its national pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2026.” According to the European Commission, the choice risks going against the policy line adopted by the European Union after the start of the war. Indeed, Brussels has reiterated that it has expressed a clear position against Russia’s “illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.”
“The European Commission,” declare Virkkunen and Micallef, “has expressed a clear position regarding Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Culture promotes and protects democratic values, encourages open dialogue, diversity and freedom of expression and should never be used as a platform for propaganda. Member states, institutions and organizations must act in line with EU sanctions and avoid giving space to individuals who have actively supported or justified the Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine.”
According to Virkkunen and Micallef, the Biennial Foundation’s decision “is not compatible with the EU’s collective response to Russia’s brutal aggression.” Therefore, “should the Biennial Foundation proceed with its decision to allow Russia’s participation,” the statement continues, “we will consider further action, including the suspension or termination of ongoing EU funding to the Biennial Foundation.” An eventuality that could have significant institutional and cultural consequences.
The affair is part of a broader debate involving many international cultural institutions in recent years, which have been called to confront the relationship between cultural diplomacy, artistic freedom and political responsibility in the context of the war in Ukraine. Russia’s possible presence at the 2026 Art Biennale thus reopens a sensitive discussion on the role of major global cultural events in times of conflict.
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| EU threatens to withdraw funds from Venice Biennale if Russia participates |
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