About
La Biennale di Venezia is the oldest and most prestigious forum for contemporary art in the world. Founded in 1895, La Biennale di Venezia has gradually expanded its scope and influence over the years, with architecture, cinema, theatre, music and dance added to the original art exhibition. Today, the Art and Architecture editions are held every other year (alternating), while the other festivals are organized annually within the institution.
La Biennale di Venezia is often referred to as the “Olympics of the Arts” because of its scale and broad international participation. Nevertheless, it is not a competition in the literal sense of the word - it is not about rivalry between states, but about presence and participation on the global stage of contemporary art. The focus lies on the opportunity to be part of the global conversation about the role of art today - a conversation that inevitably reflects the social, political and cultural issues that concern humanity at this moment. Each edition of La Biennale di Venezia has a different curator with the important role of defining the overarching theme, usually one that is acutely relevant to society. The participants selected to represent their countries at La Biennale di Venezia contribute their voices to this conversation, often drawing precisely on the globally significant theme that has been set.
Within La Biennale di Venezia there are two main formats: the International Exhibition, curated by the artistic director, and the National Participations, organized by the individual countries.
For Bulgaria, the upcoming participation will be only the twelfth in our history, as over the years the country has been absent from one of the world’s most prestigious art forums for political or economic reasons. Bulgaria’s first participation dates back to 1910, after which our presence was sporadic. In recent years, however, the country has established a steady and consistent participation in La Biennale di Venezia, and in 2026 will mark its fourth consecutive pavilion without interruption.
Learn more about all Bulgarian participations in La Biennale di Venezia Arte.
The theme of the current edition, which will take place between 9 May and 22 November 2026, is “In Minor Keys” formulated by the curator Koyo Kouoh. Despite her sudden passing last year, the Biennale will be realized according to her concept by the extended curatorial team.
