The European Union has terminated a €2 million grant to the Venice Biennale, one of the world's most important contemporary art exhibitions, after Russia was allowed to participate for the first time since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The decision, announced on 21 July 2026, follows months of controversy over the Russian pavilion's return to the event, which this year runs from 9 May to 22 November.

EU terminates grant

The European Commission's Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) ended the grant to the Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia after a legal review and recommendation from the Commission. The European Commission had repeatedly signalled that the Biennale's decision to readmit Russia would jeopardise EU funding, and the legal review confirmed that continued support would violate the grant agreement. A spokesperson said cultural projects funded by EU taxpayers must uphold democratic values, open dialogue, diversity and freedom of expression, which are not respected in today's Russia. The €2 million had been allocated to support film producers and immersive technology at the Biennale. The EACEA manages EU funds for education, culture, audiovisual media, sport, citizenship and volunteering.

“Cultural projects funded with European taxpayers' money should uphold democratic values and promote open dialogue, diversity and freedom of expression - values that are not respected in today's Russia.”

Russia's return to the Biennale

Russia is exhibiting for the first time since its 2022 invasion. The Russian pavilion, owned by the state, had been closed since the war began. Its reopening was orchestrated by Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco with backing from Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, a known Putin sympathizer. Around 50 state-selected artists, including musicians, poets and philosophers, worked on the music and performance project 'The Tree is Rooted in the Sky'. The pavilion remains closed to the public, but visitors can watch the installation on a large screen outside. Curator Anastassija Karnejewa, daughter of a defence manager at state corporation Rostec who holds the rank of a secret service general, said this had been planned from the start. Russia views the participation as the end of its cultural isolation in the West.

Criticism and Ukraine's protest

The decision to allow Russia back drew sharp criticism. Ukraine protested, noting that thousands of cultural monuments and institutions have been destroyed or damaged during Moscow's war. The Ukrainian government has accused Karnejewa of having contacts with the Russian arms industry. The international jury of the Biennale resigned shortly before the opening in protest against Russia's inclusion. Critics condemned the Russian cultural offensive as part of Moscow's 'hybrid warfare'. Buttafuoco had defended the move as 'diplomacy of beauty'.

“diplomacy of beauty”

Biennale's response

The Biennale leadership called the funding cut a long-expected 'political decision' and said it would challenge it legally. However, they stated it would have no significant impact on the budget, finances or planned activities.

“political decision”

Key events