Venice Biennale

Venice Biennale is much more than just a cultural event: it is an experience spanning art, architecture, dance, music, drama and cinema, transforming the entire city into creative stage. 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 from every continent each year.

As you stroll through the streets and along the canals, you may come across unexpected installations, site-specific performances, temporary pavilions, or experimental screenings.

About Venice Biennale

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

Biennale Arte
Biennale Architettura
Biennale Danza
Biennale Musica
Biennale Teatro
Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica

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

The main venues are:

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

Biennale Arte: The Queen of Visual Avant-garde

Biennale Arte 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 by artists from around the world are developed. These works range from painting and performance to video and AI.

The national pavilions hosted in the Gardens represent individual countries, each with their own independent curatorial project. Some are also located in historical venues dotted around the city.

Biennale Architettura: Visions of the Future

In even years, Venice hosts Biennale Architettura, an event addressing major issues of living and sustainability. The exhibitions are held in the Gardens, the Arsenale and other urban spaces that are not usually accessible.

The pavilions showcase innovative solutions, experimental projects and architectural concepts that challenge our perception of the future. It's the perfect place for anyone interested in discovering where contemporary architecture is headed.

Biennale Teatro, Danza and Musica

The following events take place between June and October:

Biennale Teatro: experimental performances and new dramaturgies
Biennale Danza: experimental choreography and performances
Biennale Musica: concerts, installations and sound experiments

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

Biennale College and Public Activities

The Biennale promotes education through Biennale College, a program that offers artistic residencies, workshops and productions that involve young talents from all over the world.

There are many events open to the public, including guided tours, workshops, meetings and interactive installations, which aim to make contemporary art more accessible to visitors with less experience.

Where and when the Biennale takes place

In addition to the Gardens and the Arsenale, each edition features dozens of locations across Venice, including palaces, former convents, galleries, disused churches and industrial spaces. This is an extraordinary opportunity to explore a hidden side of Venice that is usually closed to the public.

Major exhibitions focusing on art and architecture are held from April to November. Performing arts events, including dance, drama and music, take place between June and October.