One of the most prestigious events in the art world, the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition, has announced the participation of 111 artists, duos, and collectives for its 2026 edition. This year’s biennale will be held under the title “In Minor Keys,” as a posthumous exhibition dedicated to the memory of the Cameroonian curator Koyo Kouoh, who passed away last year. The title profoundly reflects the spirit and curatorial vision of the biennale, pointing toward a focus on the more subtle, lesser-known, and deeper layers of art.
On February 25, during a live broadcast presentation, Kouoh’s team and biennale staff revealed the names of the artists selected for this prestigious international exhibition, which will open on May 9. This year’s biennale will host works by artists from the United States, Palestine, Australia, Peru, South Africa, Zambia, and many other countries. This broad geographical representation strengthens the biennale’s character as a global platform while enabling dialogue among artists from diverse cultures and perspectives.
Kouoh passed away last May at the age of 57 following a cancer diagnosis. She was to have been the first African woman to serve as the artistic director of the biennale. Following her death, the Venice Biennale announced that the exhibition “In Minor Keys” would continue to be developed under the guidance of a team chosen by Kouoh herself—Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Marie Hélène Pereira, and Rasha Salti serving as advisors, Siddhartha Mitter as editor-in-chief of the catalogue, and Rory Tsapayi as research assistant. This decision is regarded as a significant step toward preserving and honoring Kouoh’s vision and legacy.
Before her passing, Kouoh had made substantial progress on the exhibition, including finalizing the title “In Minor Keys,” developing the concept, preparing the catalogue, and selecting the artists and works. This demonstrates just how strong and distinctive her artistic vision was. In today’s announcement, Rasha Salti stated: “Minor keys refuse orchestral pomp and military marches; they come alive in quiet tones, low frequencies, murmurs, in the consolations of poetry; all of them are improvised portals to elsewhere and otherwise. Minor keys demand a listening that stirs emotions and, in turn, sustains them.” These words reveal that the exhibition aims to offer not only a visual feast but also a profound auditory and emotional experience.
The concept of “In Minor Keys” suggests that art will move beyond mainstream narratives to focus on less-heard voices, overlooked stories, and marginalized perspectives. This implies that art can celebrate not only the grand and spectacular but also the small, fragile, and intimate. Through this approach, the biennale seeks to redefine the role of art within social and cultural contexts. The selection of artists also aligns with this vision: participants from different geographies and cultural backgrounds will address universal themes through their own “minor keys.”
This biennale will also emphasize the healing and unifying power of art. The team’s effort to carry forward Kouoh’s vision after her death shows that art is more than an individual form of expression—it is also a space of collective heritage and solidarity. “In Minor Keys” will remind us that art can offer hope and consolation even in difficult times, creating new harmonies by bringing together different voices. Art lovers will once again experience at this biennale that art is not merely a source of aesthetic pleasure, but a powerful tool that awakens intellectual depth and emotional resonance.
