The 2026 edition of the Venice Biennale will see Venice transform into the epicentre of contemporary art between May to November, with major exhibitions unfolding across Palazzos, churches and historic institutions. From monumental painting to immersive installations and politically charged performance, here are six essential exhibitions to experience outside of the National Pavilions in the Giardini and Arsenale, in the city known as la Serenissima.
These six exhibitions offer a powerful cross-section of la Biennale di Venezia 2026, spanning painting, installation, sculpture, performance and conceptual art, all set against the unforgettable backdrop of Venice itself.
Jenny Saville at Ca’ Pesaro
A landmark moment for contemporary painting, Jenny Saville presents her first major Venetian solo exhibition at Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art. Spanning over three decades, the exhibition brings together around 30 monumental works, from early 1990s canvases to new paintings created in dialogue with Venice’s artistic heritage.
Saville’s visceral, large-scale depictions of the human body are placed in conversation with the Venetian masters, highlighting her enduring exploration of flesh, form and painterly tradition. This powerful retrospective underscores her status as one of the most influential figurative painters working today.
Jenny Saville a Ca’ Pesaro is at Ca’ Pesaro – International Gallery of Modern Art from 28th March to 22nd November, 2026.
Michael Armitage: The Promise of Change at Palazzo Grassi
At Palazzo Grassi, Michael Armitage unveils a major exhibition with the Pinault Collection. Blending East African references with Western art history and mythology, Armitage’s paintings move fluidly between dreamlike imagery and socio-political commentary.
The Promise of Change brings together works from the past decade, exploring identity, memory, migration and sexuality. Monumental canvases and drawings create a rich visual language where personal narratives intersect with collective histories, offering a deeply poetic yet critical reflection on contemporary life.
The Promise of Change is curated by Jean-Marie Gallais, curator, Pinault Collection, in collaboration with Hans-Ulrich Obrist, art director, Serpentine Galleries, for the catalogue, and Caroline Bourgeois, advisor, Pinault Collection, and Michelle Mlati, art historian.
Michael Armitage: The Promise of Change is at Palazzo Grassi from 29th March 2026 to 10th January 2027.
https://www.pinaultcollection.com/palazzograssi/en/michael-armitage
Koen Vanmechelen: We Thought We Were Alone at Palazzo Rota Ivancich
Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen returns to Venice with an ambitious exhibition at Palazzo Rota Ivancich. Spread across three floors, We Thought We Were Alone features 30 installations exploring the interconnectedness of life on Earth.
Through sculptural works in marble, bronze and glass, Vanmechelen examines themes of hybridity, genetics and planetary ecology. His work challenges anthropocentric perspectives, proposing instead a vision of the world as a complex, self-regulating system where all forms of life are interdependent.
Koen Vanmechelen: We Thought We Were Alone is at Palazzo Rota Ivancich from 9th May to 22nd November, 2026.
Gabrielle Goliath presents Elegy at Chiesa di Sant’Antonin
At Chiesa di Sant’Antonin, South African artist Gabrielle Goliath presents Elegy, a moving multi-channel video installation rooted in performance. Emerging in response to the cancellation of the South African Pavilion, this independent exhibition resonates with urgency and collective mourning.
For over a decade, Elegy has evolved as a ritual of shared breath and song, addressing global histories of violence and loss, from femicide in South Africa to displacement in Namibia and Gaza. Installed across eight monumental screens, the work immerses visitors in sound and light, creating a powerful space for remembrance, connection and care.
Gabrielle Goliath Elegy is at the Chiesa di Sant’Antonin from 5th May to 31st July, 2026.
Arch Hades: Return | Ritorno at Scoletta Battioro e Tiraoro di Venezia
In a decommissioned church on the Grand Canal, Arch Hades presents Return | Ritorno, an immersive exhibition combining painting, sculpture and sound. The historic Scoletta Battioro e Tiraoro di Venezia becomes a contemplative environment exploring vulnerability and the human condition.
The centrepiece is a monumental 22-panel painting spanning 13 metres, populated by 63 life-size figures. Drawing on Classical and Symbolist traditions, the work evokes a collective journey through emotion and existence, echoing the grandeur of Gustav Klimt while forging a distinctly contemporary voice.
Arch Hades Return | Ritorno is at the Scoletta Battioro e Tiraoro di Venezia from 7th May to 30th October, 2026. The exhibition is supported by Erarta foundation.
Helter Skelter: Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince at Fondazione Prada Venice
At Fondazione Prada, curator Nancy Spector brings together Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince in a compelling two-person exhibition. Presented at Ca’ Corner della Regina, Helter Skelter explores image appropriation, popular culture and the complexities of American identity.
Through more than fifty works spanning film, photography, sculpture and painting, the exhibition reveals a shared methodology rooted in reworking existing imagery. Both artists probe the myths and contradictions of the United States, addressing race, masculinity and media culture with raw intensity and critical insight.
Helter Skelter is at Ca’ Corner della Regina, Fondazione Prada’s Venice venue, from 9th May to 23rd November 2026.
https://www.fondazioneprada.org/project/helter-skelter-arthur-jafa-richard-prince/?lang=en
