Editorial call for May 2026
Exclusions at the Venice Biennale
The 2026 Venice Biennale, shaped by disputes over national representation and intensifying diplomatic tensions, shows how cultural institutions can reflect deeper fractures in the global geopolitical landscape. Debates around admission and exclusion reveal how closely art can be tied to state power, diplomatic pressure, and international legitimacy.
If art is often described as a universal language, who gets to decide which voices are allowed to take part in global cultural events?
We invite short contributions exploring the political, philosophical, and economic implications of exclusions at the Venice Biennale.
Angles to explore
Philosophy
If art is a universal language, what principles should guide the admission or exclusion of specific nations in international events?
Politics
In what ways do decisions in artistic, cultural, and sporting arenas become instruments of diplomatic pressure or geopolitical alignment?
Economics
What short- and long-term effects can the exclusion of certain countries have on the economic sustainability of the Biennale, the global art market, and its broader value chain?