Biennale of the Word / Dissent and Peace

On the occasion of Biennale Arte 2026, La Biennale di Venezia will host three evening events titled Biennale of the Word / Dissent and Peace, dedicated to reflection and in-depth discussion of the theme of peace. The encounters, by invitation only, will be held on 6, 7 and 8 May, from 7 to 8 pm, in Sala delle Colonne, offering an opportunity to listen and engage with some of the most influential voices in the contemporary cultural landscape. On these evenings, Ca’ Giustinian will not host the traditional cocktail receptions for preview participants.

On Wednesday 6 May, the guest speaker will be Alexander Sokurov, the Russian director and filmmaker among the most influential on the world stage, known for works of strong civic engagement and historical reflection.

On Thursday 7 May, the speaker will be Suad Amiry, the Palestinian writer and architect whose work weaves together memory, identity and everyday life in the territories of the conflict.

On Friday 8 May there will be a choral event with all the artistic directors of the Biennale departments: Alberto Barbera, Artistic Director for Cinema; Caterina Barbieri, Artistic Director for Music; Willem Dafoe, Artistic Director for Theatre; Wayne McGregor, Artistic Director for Dance; Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, Artistic Directors for Architecture.

La Biennale di Venezia also calls attention to the important event marking the inauguration of the new premises of the Historical Archive – International Centre for Research on the Contemporary Arts at the Arsenale. The initiative will take place on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 June, with a programme of lectures and performances curated by the Artistic Directors of La Biennale (by invitation only), and will subsequently open to the public on Wednesday 3 June with an open day dedicated to tours of the restored spaces (reservation required). The programme will unfold as a wide-ranging reflection on the universal languages of the contemporary age, focusing on the archive as a dynamic space of memory: a living memory, capable not only of preserving the past, but of constantly renewing it, carrying it forward into the future.

On Friday 5 June, in Sala delle Colonne of Ca’Giustinian, the cycle Biennale of the Word / Literature returns with an event dedicated to the presentation of the book by Giovanni Grasso, Finché durerà la terra (Rizzoli, 2026), the starting point for a dialogue between the author and Roberto Papetti, director of the daily Il Gazzettino.

With the Biennale della Parola La Biennale di Venezia reaffirms its commitment to promoting culture as a space for dialogue, responsibility, and critical imagination, restoring centrality to the spoken word at a time marked by deep global tensions.