Venice is definitely one of the main destinations in Italy for contemporary art.
The Biennale, which takes place from April to November, is the main event in town, featuring artists from all over the world.
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection hosts one of the finest collections of 20th century art in Italy, and the Pinault Foundation showcases prominent artists in its two venues: Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana. In addition to these famous collections, there are many other museums and galleries worth a visit.
Let us help you choose the best exhibits and the perfect itinerary to make the most of your stay!
The Venice Biennale 2026, opening on May 9, is titled In Minor Keys and it is a project conceived by curator Koyo Kouoh.
Besides the main show in the Giardini and the Arsenale, this year our city will host many outstanding exhibitions featuring important contemporary artists.
Here’s a selection of exhibitions opening in Venice in the spring of 2026:
Tide of Returns at Oceanspace
March 28 – October 11, 2026
Jenny Saville at Ca’ Pesaro
March 28 – November 22, 2026
Lorna Simpson and Paulo Nazareth at Punta della Dogana
March 29 – November 22, 2026
Michael Armitage and Amar Kanwar at Palazzo Grassi
March 29, 2026 – January 10, 2027
Dayanita Singh at the Archive di Stato
April 17 – July 31, 2026
Peggy Guggenheim in London: The Making of a Collector
April 25 – October 19, 2026
Chihuly: Venice 2026 at Istituto Veneto
May 5 – November 14, 2026
Lydia Ourahmane at Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation
May 5 – November 22, 2026
Anish Kapoor at Palazzo Manfrin
May 5 – August 9, 2026
Marina Abramovic – Transforming Energy at the Gallerie dell’Accademia
May 6 – October 19, 2026
Georg Baselitz – Eroi d’Oro at Fondazione Cini
May 6 – September 27, 2026
Erwin Wurm at the Fortuny Museum
May 6 – November 22, 2026
Amoako Boafo at Palazzo Grimani
May 6 – November 22, 2026
Shirin Neshat – Do U Dare! at Palazzo Marin
May 8 – September 6, 2026
Ding Yi and Nigel Cooke at Fondazione Querini Stampalia
May 9 and May 5 – November 22, 2026
Su Xiaobai at Palazzo van Axel
May 9 – November 22, 2026
Lee Ufan and Alighiero Boetti at SMAC
May 9 – November 22, 2026
Turandot: to the Daughters of the East by Parasol Unit at Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti
May 9 – October 31, 2026
Venice Biennale FAQ
What’s the best way to visit the Venice Biennale?
The Biennale is a huge show, normally featuring more than a hundred artists from all over the world: it’s easy to be overwhelmed and miss out the meaning of the exhibition. A private, customized guided tour will provide you with an overview of the two main venues, the Giardini and the Arsenale, as well as a focus on the most interesting artists and national pavilions.
What are the Giardini and the Arsenale?
They are the two main venues of the Venice Biennale.
In each venue you can find a section of the thematic exhibition and some of the national pavilions.
You can easily walk between the Giardini and the Arsenale in approximately 15 minutes.
Besides being the location of the show, their history is also important: the Giardini, meaning “gardens”, were the first public park established in Venice; the Arsenale was the public shipyard of the Venetian Republic.
What are the national pavilions?
The Biennale consists of a thematic exhibition, featuring artists from all over the world chosen by one curator according to the theme of every edition, and the national pavilions. The national pavilions are small independent exhibitions organized by the different participating countries, each has its own curators and artists.
How much time is needed to visit the Biennale?
We recommend planning one day to visit each venue, starting with a guided tour to get an overview of the most interesting artists and pavilions, and then continue exploring on one’s own.
If one has only one day to see the exhibition, they can plan a 3-hour tour in the Giardini and another 3-hour tour in the Arsenale.
Book a tour: erikacornali@gmail.com
