Iran will not participate in the 2026 Venice Biennale, the world\u2019s most important art event, the organizers announced on May 4.<\/p>\n
Although no rationale behind the decision was offered, the withdrawal arrives at a moment when Iran is enduring an uncertain ceasefire amid a war with the United States and Israel that has roiled the Middle East.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegarding the National Participations at the 61st International Art Exhibition, In Minor Keys by Koyo Kouoh, La Biennale has been informed that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not participate,\u201d the Biennale said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Biennale did not respond to a request to comment on the development.<\/p>\n The news arrives days ahead of the Biennale\u2019s public opening on May 9, which will see the involvement of 100 countries, including the recently announced additions of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Seychelles. For the first time since 2011, however, South Africa will not host a pavilion after a legal dispute<\/a> over a Gaza-focused artwork by Gabrielle Goliath saw the country withdraw.<\/p>\n After an absence of nearly three decades, Iran returned to the Venice Biennale in 2003 and has participated in most every edition since, including in 2024 when its pavilion highlighted the issue of women\u2019s rights under the title \u201cOf One Essence is the Human Race<\/a>.\u201d The commission of this year\u2019s Iran pavilion was listed as Aydin Mahdizadeh Tehrani, the general director of visual arts at Iran\u2019s culture ministry.<\/p>\n The cancellation of Iran\u2019s pavilion is the latest case in which the 61st edition has become embroiled in contemporary geopolitics.<\/p>\n