The protest centers on a ballot that allows visitors to vote for the best national pavilion and the top participant in the Biennale’s main exhibition after the traditional jury-based selection of the prestigious Golden Lion awards was abandoned.

Organizers introduced the public voting system following the resignation of the awards jury, which withdrew before the prizes could be awarded.

Artists Challenge Voting Process

A protest letter released Wednesday by participating artists, curators and commissioners criticized the voting mechanism, arguing that it lacked transparency and accountability.

The signatories said they had initially requested on May 20 that their names be removed from the ballot but had not received a satisfactory response. They now say they are preparing legal action if the situation remains unchanged.

According to the letter, the artists object not only to the voting process itself but also to the continued inclusion of their names despite their request to withdraw from consideration.

Biennale Refuses to Remove Names

In response, organizers provided a May 28 letter stating that all names would remain on the ballot in order to preserve what the Biennale described as visitors’ freedom of expression.

At the same time, the Biennale informed the artists, curators and commissioners that none of the signatories seeking removal would be eligible to receive the awards.

The protesting artists argued that the arrangement undermines the legitimacy of the process because visitors are being invited to vote for candidates who ultimately cannot win.

They described the procedure as ineffective and questioned the purpose of collecting votes that would not be counted toward the final awards.

Controversy Follows Jury Resignation

The dispute follows an already turbulent opening for the 2026 edition of the Venice Biennale, which began on May 9.

The jury resigned in protest over the participation of Russia and Israel in the exhibition. In announcing its decision, the jury referenced investigations by the International Criminal Court related to alleged crimes against humanity connected to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

As a result of the resignation, the traditional Golden Lion awards process was effectively suspended, prompting organizers to replace jury decisions with public voting at the Biennale’s two main venues, the Giardini and the Arsenale.

The visitor-selected awards are scheduled to be announced on the exhibition’s closing day on Nov. 22.

Broad International Support for Protest

The campaign against the voting system has attracted support from a significant portion of the Biennale community.

According to the protest letter, roughly 70 artists participating in the main exhibition and representatives from nearly 40 national pavilions have joined the effort.

Among the participating national pavilions supporting the protest are those representing Iceland, Norway and Denmark. These countries have also been among those advocating for Russia’s exclusion from the Biennale following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The signatories additionally include Austrian artist Florentina Holzinger, whose exhibition has drawn significant attention during the event.

Political Tensions Continue to Shape Exhibition

The controversy reflects the broader political disputes that have overshadowed this year’s Biennale.

During preview events before the public opening, demonstrations took place outside both the Russian and Israeli pavilions, highlighting divisions within the international arts community over the participation of countries involved in ongoing conflicts.

The dispute over the visitor ballot now adds another layer of uncertainty to an exhibition already marked by protests, institutional disagreements and debate over the role of international cultural events during periods of geopolitical tension.

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