Venice Biennale

The Venice Biennale is much more than a cultural event: it’s an experience that spans art, architecture, dance, music, theater, and cinema, transforming the entire city into a stage of creativity. Founded in 1895, the Biennale is now one of the most important and prestigious cultural events in the world, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually from every continent.

As you stroll through the streets and canals, it’s not unusual to come across unexpected installations, site-specific performances, temporary pavilions, or experimental screenings.

What is the Venice Biennale

The Venice Biennale is a cultural institution that organizes six major international events:

Biennale Art
Biennale Architecture
Biennale Dance
Biennale Music
Biennale Theater
International Exhibition of Cinematic Art

Every year, Art and Architecture alternate (Art in odd years, Architecture in even years), while the other disciplines are held annually from June to October.

The main venues are:

Biennale Gardens, in Castello
Arsenal, a former naval shipyard now a monumental space
Scattered Pavilions, in historical palaces and alternative spaces

Biennale Art: The Queen of Visual Avant-garde

Biennale Art is the most well-known and attended event, attracting over half a million visitors. Each edition has a central theme proposed by an international curator, and around this theme, works from artists worldwide are developed. The works range from painting to performance, from video to AI.

The national pavilions hosted in the Gardens represent individual countries with independent curatorial projects. Some are also located in historical venues scattered around the city.

Biennale Architecture: Visions of the Future

In even years, Venice hosts the Biennale Architecture, an event addressing major issues of living and sustainability. The exhibitions take place between the Gardens, Arsenal, and urban spaces often not accessible during other times.

The pavilions present innovative solutions, experimental projects, and architectural visions that question the future. It’s the perfect place for those who want to discover where contemporary architecture is headed.

Biennale Theater, Dance, and Music

Between June and October, the following events also take place:

Biennale Theater: experimental performances and new dramaturgies
Biennale Dance: experimental choreography and performances
Biennale Music: concerts, installations, and sound experiments

These events are more intimate in nature and often take place inside the Arsenal, offering an immersive and close-up experience.

Biennale College and Public Activities

The Biennale promotes education with Biennale College, an artistic residency program, workshops, and productions that involve young talents from all over the world.

Many events are open to the public: guided tours, workshops, meetings, and interactive installations to bring contemporary art closer to less experienced visitors.

Where the Biennale Takes Place and When to Visit

In addition to the Gardens and Arsenal, each edition involves dozens of locations throughout Venice: palaces, former convents, galleries, deconsecrated churches, and industrial spaces. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to explore a hidden Venice, usually closed to the public.

The major exhibitions (Art and Architecture) are held from April to November. The performing arts (dance, theater, music) take place between June and October.