EU threatens to pull funding from Venice Biennale over inclusion of Russia

14 April 2026

The European Commission is threatening to withdraw funding from the Venice Biennale unless the arts festival reverses its decision to allow Russia to participate. The Biennale organisation received a letter on Friday 10 April from urging it to reconsider Russia's involvement, Italian media report.

By admitting a Russian national delegation, the Biennale is flouting European sanctions, according to the letter, sent by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). If the organisers do not take "corrective measures" within 30 days, the festival could lose around 2 million euros in subsidies allocated until 2028.

Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, the president of the Biennale, has championed an inclusive approach. In a March interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, he says that the Biennale must transcend geopolitical disputes, adding that countries such as Iran, Belarus and Israel are also allowed to participate.

Widespread criticism

The Biennale has faced criticism from other European countries since it announced the participation of Russia. Last month, 22 European ministers called on the festival to bar Russia from its 61st edition. The signatories warn that Russian participation would send the wrong signal as the war in Ukraine rages on.

Flemish Culture and Education minister Caroline Gennez was one of the signatories. "There can be no place for Russian state representation or propaganda on a leading cultural platform such as the Biennale," Gennez said at the time. "The return of the Russian pavilion would therefore be an insult to the values we share with Ukraine."

That said, Gennez intends to attend the festival herself. "I'll be there alongside our entry, because we've made an great choice from Flanders and have come a long way," the minister explained. "The artists deserve our support."

The festival is scheduled to open on 9 May.

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