The Venice Biennale is one of the world’s most important cultural institutions, organizing major international exhibitions across different disciplines. Among its most celebrated appointments are the International Art Exhibition and the International Architecture Exhibition, which return regularly and transform Venice into a global stage for contemporary ideas, research, and creativity.
While the main exhibitions are centered around the Giardini and the Arsenale, the Biennale extends far beyond these iconic venues through a rich program of collateral events. These are not simply side happenings around the city: they are independent exhibitions and installations selected and acknowledged by La Biennale di Venezia, hosted in historic palaces, contemporary art foundations, hidden courtyards, former churches, and restored industrial spaces.
For visitors, they offer the chance to experience the Biennale in a broader, more immersive way: not only through the main exhibitions, but also through remarkable projects that reveal lesser-known corners of the city and create unexpected connections between contemporary culture and Venice’s unique architectural setting.
In the following sections, we’ll explore some of the most interesting events connected to the 2026 edition of the Venice Biennale and how to experience them at their best.
Best collateral events in Venice Biennale 2026
The 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia will take place from 9 May to 22 November 2026, with pre-opening days on 6, 7, and 8 May. Curated by Koyo Kouoh, the 2026 edition is titled In Minor Keys, a theme that borrows from music theory to propose a more intimate, reflective, and slower approach to contemporary art.
The official program includes 99 National Participations and 31 Collateral Events, confirming once again that the Biennale extends far beyond its main venues.
Among the officially recognized collateral events, some of the most notable include:
- As Above, So Below
– Fabbrica H3, Ex Chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano, GiudeccaThe project by One Ocean Foundation in collaboration with ZEITGEIST19 Foundation explores the deep connection between humanity and the ocean, combining artistic research, scientific perspectives, and environmental reflection.
Through exhibitions, talks, and interdisciplinary contributions, the event highlights the importance of ocean conservation and the role of marine ecosystems in maintaining the planet’s balance. - TURANDOT: To the Daughters of the East
– ACP–Palazzo Franchetti, San MarcoThis group exhibition is presented by Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art and curated by Dr. Ziba Ardalan. On view from 9 May to 31 October 2026 (with opening on 6 May), it brings together eleven major women artists from Central Asia and the broader Eastern regions, with works spanning video, installation, sculpture, painting, textile, and sound. Inspired by the figure of Turandot, the exhibition reflects on myth, history, identity, and intercultural narratives, while also standing out for its setting in the historic Palazzo Franchetti. - The Spirits of Maritime Crossing 2026
– Palazzo Rocca Contarini Corfù, DorsoduroPresented by the Bangkok Art Biennale Foundation and curated by Apinan Poshyananda, this group exhibition will be on view from 9 May to 2 August 2026. Bringing together
20 artists from Southeast Asia, as well as Ireland, Serbia, and other countries, it explores themes of identity, displacement, diaspora, memory, and spiritual resilience in a world shaped by migration and global transformation. Set in a historic Venetian palace, the exhibition creates a dialogue between Venice’s maritime identity and contemporary artistic reflections on movement, exchange, and belonging. - Of Woman Born
– Magazzini del Sale n. 5, DorsoduroPresented by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, this large-scale site-specific installation by Nalini Malani will be on view from 9 May to 22 November 2026. Conceived for the Venice venue, the project expands Malani’s ongoing exploration of women’s voices, mythology, patriarchy, and global conflict through a multimedia environment that brings together iPad animation, sound, video, and drawing. Set inside the atmospheric Magazzini del Sale, the exhibition offers an immersive experience that connects the artist’s long-standing feminist practice with one of Venice’s most evocative exhibition spaces. - Tadeusz Kantor (1915-1990)
– Procuratie Vecchie, Piazza San MarcoOrganized by the Starak Family Foundation and curated by Ania Muszyńska, this exhibition will be on view from 9 May to 22 November 2026. Dedicated to one of the most influential figures of 20th-century Polish art, it focuses on Tadeusz Kantor’s multidisciplinary practice through emblematic works connected to themes such as emballage, performance, theatre, and artistic experimentation, while also referencing Maria Jarema, another key name in the Polish avant-garde. Its setting at the Procuratie Vecchie, in the heart of Piazza San Marco, adds further prestige to the experience.
Other major exhibitions to see in Venice during Biennale 2026
Beyond the official Collateral Events, Venice will also host several major exhibitions during
the Biennale months, adding even more depth to the city’s cultural calendar.
- Lorna Simpson – Punta della Dogana
From 29 March to 22 November 2026, Punta della Dogana will present a major
exhibition dedicated to the American artist Lorna Simpson, organized in partnership
with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Conceived specifically for the Venetian
venue, the show brings together paintings, collages, videos, sculptures, and installations. - Marina Abramović: Transforming Energy – Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia
From 6 May to 19 October 2026, the Gallerie dell’Accademia will host
Transforming Energy, the major exhibition dedicated to Marina Abramović.
It will mark a historic moment for the museum, as Abramović becomes the first living female artist
to be celebrated there with a major show. - Michael Armitage: The Promise of Change – Palazzo Grassi
From 29 March 2026 to 10 January 2027, Palazzo Grassi will present
Michael Armitage: The Promise of Change, a large exhibition dedicated to the
Kenyan-born artist, featuring works created over the past ten years. The show will explore key
themes in his practice through large-scale paintings and drawings. - Anish Kapoor — Palazzo Manfrin
From 5 May to 9 August 2026, Palazzo Manfrin will unveil an ambitious exhibition
by Anish Kapoor. Spanning 50 years of his practice, the show brings together architectural models,
large-scale installation (including At the Edge of the World and Descent into Limbo)
and his signature mirror and stainless-steel works. - Helter Skelter: Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince – Fondazione Prada
From 9 May to 23 November 2026, Fondazione Prada will present
Helter Skelter, curated by Nancy Spector. The exhibition creates a dialogue between
Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince, exploring their shared appropriation of American popular culture
and their unique perspectives on the social topographies of the United States.
Together with the Biennale and its collateral events, these exhibitions make Venice in 2026
an especially rich destination for contemporary art.
How to participate to collateral events of Venice Biennale
Participating in the collateral events of the Venice Biennale is often easier than many visitors
expect. Unlike the main Biennale exhibition at the Giardini and the Arsenale, most collateral
events are hosted in independent venues across the city, each with its own access policy.
In general, visitors can experience these exhibitions in several ways:
- Free admission exhibitions
Many collateral events are open to the public without an entrance fee. Visitors can simply
access the venue during opening hours. - Ticketed exhibitions or foundations
Some events hosted in museums, foundations, or historic palaces may require a ticket or prior reservation.
- Guided visits and curated itineraries
For a more in-depth experience, visitors can join guided tours that connect several collateral
events across different districts of Venice.
Because the exhibitions are spread throughout the city, planning the itinerary in advance helps make the most of the experience.
For those looking for a more seamless way to explore the Biennale season, Top Venice can organize private itineraries, guided visits, and exclusive access to selected exhibitions, allowing visitors to discover both the main Biennale venues and the most interesting collateral events across the city.
