Following the Architecture Biennale in 2025, the next event will be the 61st International Biennale di Venezia, another extremely popular art exhibition. Interested visitors can already note down the known dates of the event, which will once again take place in the familiar exhibition spaces of the Giardini and Arsenale.
Further information about this unique event can be found in the text below, along with everything you need to know about ticket sales.
International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale
May 9 to November 22, 2026
The Venice Biennale is one of the most famous and probably one of the most important international exhibitions of various art and cultural movements. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to Venice for this annual event.
There will be a preview on May 6, 7, and 8, 2026. This year’s theme is “In Minor Keys,” curated by Koyo Kouoh, and will be shown in the Giardini, the Arsenale, and various locations throughout Venice.
👍 Tip: Online tickets can only be purchased on the official Biennale website. We recommend taking a guided tour of the Biennale to get a good overview and a deeper understanding of the art and history. Check out this exclusive offer. Tour guide in German. Duration: 2 hours. Wheelchair accessible. Cancellation up to 24 hours before start.
Guided tour – Architecture Biennale 2026
Tickets for the Venice Biennale
| Architecture Biennale 2025 | Price* | Voucher |
|---|---|---|
| Adults – 3-day ticket | 35.00 € | Book online |
| Adult single ticket Giardini and Arsenale | 25.00 € | Book online |
| Young people <26 | 16.00 € | Book online |
| 🎟️ Guided tour Discover the Biennale | 173.00 € | Book online |
Everything you need to know about tickets is on the provider’s website.
Notes and important information:
- The three-day ticket allows access to each exhibition on three consecutive days.
- The single ticket entitles the holder to one-time admission to the Arsenale and Giardini. This also applies to non-consecutive days and is valid until the end of the exhibition on November 22, 2026.
- Those interested in art and architecture can also book additional tickets, for example for the Fondazione Querini Stampalia, the aristocratic palace of Count Giovanni Querini (for further details and tickets, see below).
Opening hours of the Venice Biennale of Architecture
The exhibition is open from May 9 to November 22, 2026, and takes place at two different locations (10 minutes’ walk from each other). The opening hours apply to both locations.
Giardini: Trent Avenue 1260 und Sant’Elena (November IV Avenue)
Arsenale: Campo della Tana 2169/F und Ponte dei Pensieri (Salizada Streta)
| Date | Opening hours | Last admission |
|---|---|---|
| May–September 2026 | 11:00 to 19:00 | 18:45 |
| October–November 2026 | 11:00 to 18:00 | 17:45 |
| Closed on Mondays Exceptions: May 15 & Nov. 11 | Closed | Closed |
The motto of this year’s Venice Biennale
Das Motto auf der Biennale in Venedig lautet 2026, wie bereits oben erwähnt:
„In Minor Keys”
This year’s main exhibition at the 61st Venice Art Biennale will be entitled “In Minor Keys.” The curatorial concept is being realized by the late Koyo Kouoh (photo), director of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town, who died unexpectedly in March 2025. However, in order to honor her project, the Venice Biennale assembled a team to implement and preserve her work according to her concept.
The concept of minor keys in art is intended as a call to support and understand deceleration, listening, and coming together. The work of Koyo Kouoh will now be carried out at the 2026 Biennale by a team consisting of Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Marie Helene Pereira and Rasha Salti, Siddhartha Mitter, and Rory Tsapayi.
Venice Biennale: commission and experience
Reminder: Advertising for the Venice Biennale 2022 (photo above).
As already mentioned, the 61st Venice Art Biennale will take place from May 9 to November 22, 2026, under the title “In Minor Keys”, curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, who focuses on emotional and quiet tones conveyed through art.
Key dates for the 2026 Biennale Arte:
- Period: May 9–November 22, 2026 (preview May 6–8).
- Curator: Koyo Kouoh.
- Motto/title: “In Minor Keys.”
- Participants: more than 100 artists, collectives, and organizations.
- Focus: Art brings joy, comfort, hope, and listening.
- Location: Giardini, Arsenale, and various locations throughout the city.
The central pavilion (Giardini) and the Arsenale will host two sections at this year’s international exhibition. The individual participants are divided as follows. – Here is an excerpt –
Giardini: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, USA
Arsenale: Argentina, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Peru, Philippines, Turkey
Where are the exhibition venues in Venice?
During the Biennale, there are many side events, concerts, music, theater, and other exhibitions throughout the city. However, as mentioned above, the heart of the Biennale is the Giardini and the Arsenale. The two venues are about a 10-minute walk apart.
Giardini della Biennale
The Giardini of the Venice Biennale are gardens renowned for art and architecture, located about 2 kilometers west of St. Mark’s Square in the Castello district. Here you will find numerous pavilions dedicated to the participating nations. It takes about 25 minutes to walk here. The gardens were laid out at the beginning of the 19th century at the request of Napoleon Bonaparte and should not be confused with the Giardini Reali, which are also small gardens and places of tranquility, not far from the hustle and bustle of nearby Piazza San Marco with its unique sights, especially St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.
Arsenale
In addition to the event in the Giardini in Castello, visitors can see a themed exhibition in the Arsenale, which has been put together by the respective curatorial team. Tickets are valid for both Biennale venues.
How do you get to the exhibition venues?
Here are the directions:
From Piazzale Roma / Santa Lucia Station – Vaporetto ACTV lines 1 and 4.1 – Giardini Biennale or Arsenale stop
From St. Mark’s Square – Vaporetto ACTV lines 1 and 4.1 – Giardini Biennale or Arsenale stop
From Punta Sabbioni – Vaporetto ACTV line 14 to the San Zaccaria stop, then change to line 1 or 4.1
You can find all the information about the legendary water buses in Venice in the sections on vaporetto and public transportation. Tickets can also be purchased in advance directly via this link.
Special pavilions at the Venice Biennale
Each of the pavilions and rooms is worth a visit, but day visitors are unlikely to have enough time to see everything. Some of the pavilions at the Venice Biennale are presented here. They are as follows:
Austrian pavilion
Performance artist Florentina Holzinger is designing the Austrian Pavilion (photo above) at the 61st Venice Art Biennale in 2026. The working title of her performance, created in collaboration with a team, is “Seaworld Venice.”
In their spectacular projects and innovative submissions for the Austrian Pavilion 2026, which deals with the resource of water, many installations in the pavilion, also in connection with its proximity to the Venice lagoon, offer visitors personal participation and amazing surprises.
German Pavilion
Dr. Kathleen Reinhardt is a renowned German art historian and curator who currently (as of February 2026) serves as director of the Georg Kolbe Museum in Berlin. She was recently selected by the ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations) to curate the German Pavilion for the 61st Venice Biennale in 2026, where she will design the German contribution. She has invited Sung Tieu and Henrike Naumann to be the artists.
With their conceptual and sculptural work, Sung Tieu and Henrike Naumann raise questions about historical responsibility and the role of individual and collective agency from the perspective of a young generation that situates the major themes of the German Pavilion in a completely different coordinate system. “I am delighted to be developing new site-specific works for Venice with both of them,” says Kathleen Reinhardt.
Naumann from Berlin reflects social problems in her artistic practice based on design and interior design.
In her multi-layered representations, Tieu combines sculpture, found objects, sound, video, photography, and texts in impressive presentations that also reflect her social and personal experiences in a complex geopolitical situation.
Swiss Pavilion 2026
For the first time, the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia has nominated a group of artists for the Swiss Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026 as part of an open competition. Time and again, the Venice Art Biennale provides a high-level platform for open debate on current social issues at an international level.
This is also the case here, with artistic research and presentation on the project and its motto, “The Unfinished Business of Living Together,” i.e., contemporary forms of coexistence. The exhibition aims to highlight various social tensions and show possibilities for tolerance and belonging in our present day.
Why is it worth visiting the Venice Biennale in 2026?
As every year, the world’s elite gather in Venice to discuss contemporary topics such as art, architecture, cinema, dance, music, and theater, and keep their promise to address and exaggerate the burning issues of the day. This year, the Biennale is once again dedicated to the theme of art.
Not unspectacular, but with an increasingly fast-paced world, art is facing a new challenge. As many contributions show, it can help to slow down or contribute to better coexistence in everyday life.
Architecture and tickets
Last year, the 19th Biennale Architettura 2025 took place in Venice under the motto “Intelligens: Natural. Artificial. Collective.” The exhibition was, of course, a great success with many visitors, as architecture is always a major theme in Venice.
The next, i.e. the 20th Venice International Architecture Biennale, will take place from May 8 to November 21, 2027 (preview May 6–7). The exhibition will be curated by Chinese architects Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, who are likely to focus on regionality, craftsmanship, and above all sustainability.
Many themes in 2025 were based on buildings from the Middle Ages, some even older. Most are palaces of enormous size, often magnificently decorated, with architectural elements from the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. In addition to the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Campanile, there are some lesser-known but still worthwhile places to visit, which of course can still be visited this year.
| Venezia Architettura | Price* | Voucher |
|---|---|---|
| Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo | 10.00 € | Book online |
| Querini Stampalia Foundation | 17.00 € | Book online |
The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a work of art of Venetian architecture. An exciting late Venetian Gothic building, built in the 14th century. The architectural highlight is the beautiful spiral staircase, shaped like a screw and built in the Renaissance period.
After climbing 80 steps, you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of Venice from a height of 28 meters. For holders of the Venice City Pass, the visit and thus the unforgettable ascent via the spiral staircase is free of charge.
Adresse: Scala Contarini del Bovolo, 4303, 30124 Venice
Opening hours: Daily 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Fondazione Querini Stampalia is also one of the masterpieces of Venetian architecture. A hidden gem that, in addition to its many architectural subtleties, also displays over 400 paintings and frescoes from the 18th and 19th centuries. A journey back in time to life in Venice almost 400 years ago. A remarkable historical house museum that also provides an insight into the lifestyle of the most distinguished elite of the Republic of Venice.
Address: Campo Santa Maria Formosa, 5252, 30122 Venezia
Opening hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed on Mondays
Combined tickets for both museums can also be booked in conjunction with the equally interesting Peggy Guggenheim Art Museum, another top attraction in Venice, or a gondola ride:
Peggy Guggenheim + Scala Contarini del Bovolo and Querini Stampalia Foundation + Gondola ride
Practical tips for visiting the Biennale
Buy tickets in advance to avoid long lines at the entrance.
Plan a route that includes the artists and pavilions you want to see. Divide your visit up over the course of the day, taking breaks. The Venice Biennale is extensive and it’s difficult to see everything in one day, so you may decide to visit again on another day.
Remember comfortable shoes – there is a lot of walking. Drinks for the hot days and a few snacks for on the go, as bars and restaurants can be crowded.
If you want to take photos, you should check the respective exhibition rules. In some cases, photography is not allowed.
Special areas for children and their families have been set up at the exhibition venues at Giardini and Arsenale. A cloakroom service offers the rental of strollers and baby carriers – while stocks last. It is possible to use changing tables and bottle warmers. The catering facilities are also appropriately equipped for children.
Image sources:
Biennale
AlMare (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giardini_2007.jpg), „Giardini 2007“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/legalcode
Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_pavillon_de_l’Autriche_(Biennale_d’architecture_2014,_Venise)_(15752387756).jpg), „Le pavillon de l’Autriche (Biennale d’architecture 2014, Venise) (15752387756)“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode
Wendeltreppe Korkenzieher Treppen – Pixabay
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