The Venice Biennale Arte 2026 will be one of the most intense and conceptually coherent editions of recent years. Not an exhibition designed to impress at first glance, but a journey that asks for time, attention, and emotional openness. From 9 May to 22 November 2026, between the Giardini della Biennale and the Arsenale of Venice, the city will become the stage for a major exhibition conceived like a musical score, shaped by pauses, silences, and deep, resonant voices.

It is a Biennale that invites visitors to slow down. And precisely for this reason, it lends itself to being experienced together, turning the visit into a shared experience rather than a simple sequence of artworks.

The Biennale of Koyo Kouoh

The Biennale Arte 2026 will be remembered as the Biennale of Koyo Kouoh. Following her passing in May 2025, the institution chose not to appoint a new curator, but to carry forward in its entirety the project she had conceived. A rare and meaningful decision, one that gives the exhibition a strong sense of continuity and respect for an already complete curatorial vision.

This coherence is felt throughout the entire exhibition path. It is a show that does not fragment the experience, but accompanies it, leaving room for dialogue, personal impressions, and even shared silence between one room and the next.

The theme In minor keys

The title In minor keys draws inspiration from music and refers to minor tonalities. Not by chance. Minor keys do not seek emphasis; they work through nuance, introspection, and attentive listening. This is exactly what this Biennale offers its visitors.

The artworks address complex themes such as loss, mourning, memory, and repair, but they do so with delicacy. There are no shouted messages or spectacular effects. It is an art that asks for time and presence, ideal to be experienced as a couple, allowing emotions to emerge naturally and become moments of reflection and shared storytelling.

The exhibition route between the Giardini and the Arsenale

At the Giardini, the route is shaped by historic pavilions, each with its own architectural and narrative identity. Here the visit unfolds in stages, encouraging a more intimate rhythm made of pauses, quiet comments, and spontaneous stops.

At the Arsenale, the exhibition becomes more immersive. The Corderie guide visitors through a continuous, almost meditative flow, where time seems to expand. It is a space that invites slow walking, side by side, guided by the dialogue between artworks, light, and architecture.

Islands, gardens, and intimate worlds

One of the strongest cores of the Biennale Arte 2026 is its focus on what is often considered “minor”: the African continent, archipelagos, cultures and artistic practices born in peripheral or isolated contexts. Not as margins, but as rich worlds, with complex and vital cultural ecosystems.

The metaphor of the island returns frequently: contained yet intense places; intimate spaces such as gardens or courtyards, capable of regeneration even in difficult times. It is an image that resonates naturally with Venice and with the way many couples choose to experience it: exploring, yes, but also rediscovering themselves in quiet, sheltered spaces away from the crowds.

When to visit the Biennale Arte 2026

The best months to experience In minor keys at the right pace are May and June, when the light is long and soft, and September and October, quieter and more introspective. During these periods, the city is more liveable, and the exhibition experience blends perfectly with evening walks and moments of calm.

Choosing to stay for several days allows visitors not to compress everything into a single visit, but to return, rest, and let impressions settle. A simple, yet precious luxury.

A show to inhabit, together

The Venice Biennale Arte 2026 does not ask to be consumed. It asks for listening, time, and emotional availability. In minor keys is an invitation to lower the volume of the outside world and tune into what often remains in the background. It is meant to be lived over several moments, alternating art with time in the city. For a couple, this approach makes the experience deeper: artworks become opportunities for dialogue, and walks between venues moments of quiet complicity.

For those who love contemporary art, this Biennale represents a rare opportunity: an intense, sensitive exhibition, capable of accompanying the journey with the same delicacy as an evening walk through Venice’s calli.

Where to stay during the Biennale Arte 2026

Experiencing the Venice Biennale Arte 2026 also means choosing the right place to return to at the end of the day. After hours spent between the Giardini and the Arsenale, true luxury lies in coming back to a quiet place, in a silent Venice, far from crowds and noise.

Book our Locanda here to experience the Biennale Arte 2026 at the right pace: art by day, Venice by night, and the pleasure of feeling at home, even far from home.