Venice Biennale artists demand Israel's exclusion from renowned festival

Venice Biennale artists demand Israel's exclusion from renowned festival Submitted by Oscar Rickett on Tue, 03/17/2026 - 12:01 A letter from the Art Not Genocide Alliance to the Biennale's directors has been signed by 178 participants in this year's exhibition An Italian soldier stands guard in front of Israel's pavilion during the pre-opening of the Venice Biennale art show, on 16 April 2024 (AFP) Off A group of artists, curators and art workers participating in the 2026 Venice Biennale have written to the festival’s organisers demanding Israel ’s exclusion from the international exhibition. In a letter to the directors of the Venice Biennale seen by Middle East Eye, the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) says it is standing “in a collective refusal to allow you to platform the Israeli state as it commits genocide ”. Signed by 178 participants from around 25 countries represented in this year’s festival, the letter says that the “Venice Biennale’s complicity with the attempted destruction of Palestinian life must end”.