The 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, widely known as the Venice Biennale, will take place from 9 May to 22 November 2026 in Venice, Italy, with preview days scheduled for 6–8 May 2026. The edition, titled “In Minor Keys,” was conceived by the late Cameroonian-Swiss curator Koyo Kouoh, marking a historic moment for African curatorial leadership at one of the world’s most influential contemporary art exhibitions. The Venice Biennale, founded in 1895, remains the oldest and most prestigious international exhibition of contemporary art, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors, curators, collectors, and critics from around the world.
For the 2026 edition, 12 African countries will present national pavilions, reflecting the continent’s expanding institutional presence at the Biennale. National pavilions function as official country representations, with governments, cultural ministries, and independent curatorial teams selecting artists and developing exhibitions that reflect national artistic production. These pavilions are installed in historic palazzos, cultural institutions, and exhibition spaces scattered throughout Venice, as well as within the Biennale’s main venues, the Giardini della Biennale and the Arsenale.
The 2026 edition is particularly significant as four African countries—Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Somalia—will present national pavilions for the first time, marking an important expansion of African participation in the Biennale’s global platform. Together, the African pavilions will present a diverse range of artistic practices including sculpture, performance, photography, sound, installation, and multimedia works exploring themes such as cultural memory, ecological knowledge, identity, spirituality, and political history.
African National Pavilions at the Venice Biennale 2026
Cameroon
Cameroon returns to the Biennale with the pavilion titled “NZƎNDA.” The project is commissioned by Guy Martial Ndongo Mendougan, Director of Development and Artistic Promotion at the Ministry of Arts and Culture of Cameroon, and curated by artist and curator Beya Gille Gacha.
The pavilion will be presented at Palazzo Canal, located in the Dorsoduro district of Venice. Participating artists include Beya Gille Gacha, Jail Time Records, Sylvie Njobati, Bienvenue Fotso, Zora Snake, and Neals Niat.
The exhibition explores contemporary Cameroonian identity through a combination of installation, sound, video, and performance. The participating artists engage with themes of urban culture, collective memory, and the transformation of social spaces, presenting works that reflect the dynamic cultural landscape of contemporary Cameroon.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo will present the pavilion “Simba Moto! Seize the Fire!” curated by philosopher and scholar Nadia Yala Kisukidi and commissioned by cultural producer Cindy Makiana.
The pavilion will be hosted at the historic Scuola Grande di San Marco, specifically within the Antico Refettorio space. The exhibition features a prominent group of Congolese artists including Sammy Baloji, Arlette Bashizi, Patrick Bongoy, Damso, Gosette Lubondo, Nelson Makengo, Aimé Mpané, Léonard Pongo, and Géraldine Tobé.
Through sculpture, photography, installation, and film, the pavilion examines the political and cultural history of the Congo while addressing contemporary issues such as colonial memory, resource extraction, social transformation, and artistic resistance.
Egypt
Egypt will present “Silence Pavilion: Between the Tangible and the Intangible.” The pavilion is organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture through the Egyptian Academy in Rome.
The exhibition will be located in the Giardini della Biennale, where Egypt maintains one of the Biennale’s historic permanent national pavilions.
The project is led by sculptor Armen Agop, who also serves as curator of the exhibition. Through monumental stone sculptures and minimalist forms, Agop explores philosophical themes surrounding silence, absence, and the relationship between physical matter and metaphysical space.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia will present the pavilion “Shapes of Silence.” The exhibition is commissioned by Ambassador Demitu Hambisa Bonsa and curated by Abebaw Ayalew.
The pavilion will be located at Palazzo Bollani, a historic building in the Castello district of Venice. Ethiopian artist Tegene Kunbi will present a series of works exploring silence as both a spiritual and cultural concept.
Through painting and installation, Kunbi reflects on Ethiopian heritage, spirituality, and contemporary cultural transformation, presenting works that engage with memory, resilience, and collective identity.
Republic of Guinea (First National Pavilion)
The Republic of Guinea will make its debut at the Venice Biennale with the pavilion “Le Son de l’Art: l’Écho de la Matière” (The Sound of Art: The Echo of Matter).
The pavilion will be located on San Servolo Island, within a historic cultural complex that hosts several international exhibitions.
Commissioned by Bilia Bah and curated by Carlo Stragapede, the exhibition will bring together a large group of artists from Guinea and the international diaspora, including Bella Bah, Bachir Diallo, King Emmanuel, and Sékou Oumar Thiam.
The project explores the relationship between sound, materiality, and artistic expression, investigating how cultural traditions and contemporary artistic practices intersect.
Republic of Equatorial Guinea (First National Pavilion)
Equatorial Guinea will also present its first national pavilion titled “The Forest / The Undergrowth.”
The exhibition will take place at Palazzo Donà dalle Rose, a historic Venetian palace frequently used for international exhibitions.
Commissioned by Paulo Speller and curated by Joan Abelló, the pavilion includes artists such as Fernando Nguema Madja, Modest Gené Roig, and several international collaborators. The exhibition examines ecological systems, forest cosmologies, and the relationship between environmental knowledge and cultural identity.
Morocco
Morocco will present the pavilion “Asǝṭṭa,” a project by artist Amina Agueznay curated by Meriem Berrada and commissioned by Mohammed Benyaacoub.
The pavilion will be presented within the Arsenale, one of the Biennale’s primary exhibition venues.
Agueznay’s work is known for its sculptural installations created from woven fibers, metal threads, and organic materials. The exhibition explores Amazigh craft traditions while reinterpreting them through contemporary artistic experimentation.
Senegal
Senegal will present a national pavilion continuing the country’s long-standing presence in international contemporary art. The pavilion will highlight contemporary Senegalese artists and curatorial perspectives emerging from the country’s vibrant art scene, which is closely connected to the Dakar Biennale.
The pavilion venue will be located within Venice’s citywide Biennale exhibition network, where numerous national pavilions are installed in historic palaces and cultural institutions.
Sierra Leone (First National Pavilion)
Sierra Leone will participate in the Venice Biennale for the first time with its own national pavilion.
The debut pavilion will introduce international audiences to contemporary Sierra Leonean artistic practices and narratives, focusing on themes such as post-conflict reconstruction, cultural resilience, and national identity.
The exhibition venue will be located within Venice’s network of Biennale satellite exhibition spaces.
Somalia (First National Pavilion)
Somalia will also debut at the Venice Biennale with its first national pavilion.
The pavilion will present contemporary Somali artists working across visual art, film, and installation, exploring themes related to diaspora, identity, cultural survival, and the reconstruction of national narratives.
The pavilion venue will be located within Venice’s broader Biennale exhibition network.
Uganda
Uganda returns to the Venice Biennale with another national pavilion showcasing contemporary artistic practices from the country.
The pavilion will present artists whose work engages with cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and social narratives, continuing Uganda’s growing presence on the global art stage.
The exhibition will take place in one of Venice’s historic Biennale venues within the city’s Castello district.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe will present the pavilion “Second Nature | Manyonga.” The project is curated by Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa and commissioned by Raphael Chikukwa of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
The pavilion will be hosted at Santa Maria della Pietà, a historic Venetian cultural site.
Participating artists include Felix Shumba and Pardon Mapondera. Through sculpture and installation, their works explore the concept of neuroplasticity as a metaphor for societal transformation and adaptation within contemporary Zimbabwean society.
A Historic Moment for African Representation
The presence of 12 African national pavilions at the 2026 Venice Biennale marks one of the most significant moments for African representation in the history of the exhibition. With four countries presenting national pavilions for the first time—Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Somalia—the 2026 edition reflects a growing commitment by African cultural institutions to participate in global contemporary art platforms.
Combined with the curatorial vision of Koyo Kouoh, whose exhibition “In Minor Keys” frames the Biennale’s broader thematic exploration, the participation of African countries highlights the increasing influence of artists, curators, and cultural institutions from across the continent in shaping global artistic discourse.
As Venice prepares to host artists and audiences from nearly one hundred countries, the 2026 Biennale promises to offer a powerful platform for African voices, perspectives, and creative experimentation within the evolving landscape of contemporary art.
