Pavilions shut at Venice biennale over Israel protest

About a dozen country pavilions at the Venice Biennale in Italy have shut down to protest Israel's inclusion in the prestigious event.

The action, organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance, called for Israel to be banned because of the war in Gaza.

Some pavilions closed for a few hours on Friday, while others, including Austria's, remained shut all day.

Pavilions from Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, and Korea were closed entirely. The UK and France closed temporarily before reopening. Several artists added Palestinian flags and pro-Palestine messages to their works.

In addition, the Venice Biennale Foundation announced, one day before the start of the 2026 previews, that Iran has withdrawn from setting up its national pavilion.

The Venice Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia) is one of the longest-running cultural festivals in the world.