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Protests rock Venice Biennale opening | DW News
May 9, 2026
Posted 10 hours ago by
Geopolitical tensions have thrown the Venice Biennale into turmoil. For the first time since 1895, the contemporary art festival opened without a ceremony, a jury, or its top prize — amid protests over the participation of Russia and Israel. We spoke to Journalist Alina Trabattoni in Rome. Chapters: 00:00 Geopolitics overshadow the Venice Biennale 00:22 Protests over the reopening of Russia’s pavilion 00:49 EU Opposition and the Biennale’s Position 01:57 Ukraine pavilion: Art shaped by war 02:39 Gaza, Israel, and growing controversy over state‑sponsored pavilions 03:51 Biennale is “no stranger” to protest — Why tensions are higher this year 06:00 Will protests against Russia and Israel continue? 07:04 Can art and cultural institutions ever be separate from politics? 07:44 Inside the art: An emotionally charged Biennale 09:05 Highlights beyond the protests #venice #art #russia #israel #palestine #dwcurrentaffairs For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/ Follow DW on social media: ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/ ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1
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