Venice Biennale, Ministry of Culture opens selection for curator of Italian Pavilion 2026

The Ministry of Culture has officially started the selection process for the curator of the Italian Pavilion at the 61. International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, scheduled for 2026 and directed by Koyo Kouoh. The public notice, released today by the Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity, aims to identify a curatorial proposal capable of narrating the contemporary nature of Italian art and placing it in the context of the international debate promoted by the Biennale.

The selection is open to Italian curators working at home or abroad, as well as foreign professionals active in Italy or working primarily with Italian artists. However, those who have previously served as curator of the Italian Pavilion will not be eligible to participate.

The goal is to identify an innovative exhibition project capable of representing Italian cultural identity in the global artistic context. The winning proposal will have to address contemporary Italian artistic research and practices, stimulating a critical reflection on the most pressing issues of our country’s society and culture. Particular attention will be given to projects that promote sustainability and environmental impact, both in the conception of the works and in the layout of the Pavilion.

“The opening of the public notice for the selection of the curator of the Italian Pavilion at the Biennale Arte 2026,” says Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, “marks a crucial moment for the enhancement and promotion of Italian contemporary art on the international scene. The Venice Biennale has always been a point of reference for the comparison of the most significant global artistic research, and the Italian Pavilion is an extraordinarily important showcase to display the richness and vitality of our artistic production. We therefore invite curators and curators to participate in large numbers in this public selection, bringing ideas, visions and perspectives that can help define a contemporary and innovative narrative of Italian art.”

“With this public selection, the Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity,” says Director General Angelo Piero Cappello, “reaffirms its commitment to supporting curating that is capable of narrating the urgencies, challenges and perspectives of contemporary national artistic identity, favoring projects that can combine innovative vision and cultural rootedness. The Italian Pavilion must be a space that is strongly identity-based but capable of dialogue and reflection that expresses, with originality and depth, the value of our art scene and its role in the global cultural debate. Through this selection process, we want to ensure the identification of an ambitious and high-quality curatorial proposal that highlights Italian talent and its ability to interact with the major issues of our time. The choice of a small number of artists and the focus on sustainability further reinforce the intent to offer an incisive and conscious curatorial proposal, in tune with the most advanced international practices.”

A project for a few artists, with a strong curatorial impact

As has been the case in recent editions, the Ministry aims for a curatorial selection that involves a small number of artists, up to a maximum of three. This choice is intended to align with trends in other national pavilions. The selected artists will have to present works capable of dialoguing in an original way with the spaces of the Tese delle Vergini, addressing the themes with an innovative and interdisciplinary approach, including multimedia languages.

The selection will take place in two stages. In the first, applicants will have to submit their curriculum vitae, a motivational letter and a preliminary project proposal. From all applications received, a Commission will select ten finalists, who will have 45 days to submit a detailed dossier containing the exhibition project, business plan and timeline.

In the second phase, the Commission will review the finalist projects by evaluating their feasibility, sustainability, international competitiveness and overall coherence. At the end of the process, a shortlist of three final candidates will be identified. The final decision will rest with the Minister of Culture, who, after consultation with the Commissioner of the Italian Pavilion, will assign the task to the chosen curator.

A Commission of experts for a choice of international significance

The evaluation commission will be composed of high-profile figures in the contemporary art scene. It will include the Director General of Contemporary Creativity, who will also assume the role of Commissioner of the Italian Pavilion, the President of the Technical-Scientific Committee for Contemporary Art and Architecture, and three experts in the field selected by the Minister of Culture. The latter may be directors of museums and art institutions, critics, curators, university professors or scholars of repute, both Italian and international.

With this selection, the Ministry of Culture confirms its commitment to the promotion of Italian contemporary art, offering a world-class showcase for the most innovative artists and ideas. The Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale has always represented a crucial opportunity for the national art scene, helping to define Italy’s role in the context of global visual art.

Venice Biennale, Ministry of Culture opens selection for curator of Italian Pavilion 2026

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