Russia's Venice Biennale return sparks backlash, funding threats

For the first time since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia plans to reopen its national pavilion at the Venice Biennale. The Kremlin’s delegate for international cultural cooperation, Mikhail Shvydkov, confirmed to ARTNews that Russia will put on an exhibition starting in May for the 2026 event. Shvydov claimed that Russia “never left” the Biennale, despite its decision to rent out its pavilion instead of organizing national exhibitions. While the Biennale’s organizers never formally banned Moscow’s participation, critics argue that Russia’s return to Venice would be impossible without their consent. And the European Union is now threatening to pull funding. Meduza examines the growing controversy surrounding the Russian Pavilion’s forthcoming project, and explains why the Biennale remains a platform for state soft power by design.