EU withdraws Venice Biennale grant after Russia’s return
La Biennale di Venezia
The European Commission decided to revoke a EUR2 million
($2.28 million) grant to the Venice
Biennale after Russia was allowed to return to the exhibition in 2026, Ukrainska
Pravda reported on July 21.
The report cited European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier, who said the Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture (EACEA) made the decision following a legal assessment and a recommendation from the commission.
“Cultural events funded by European taxpayers must protect democratic values, promote open dialogue, diversity and freedom of expression — values that are not respected in today’s Russia,” said Regnier.
The Venice Biennale is scheduled to run May 9–Nov. 22, 2026. Russia will reopen its national pavilion there for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a move that prompted protests from 22 European governments.
Thirty-seven members of the European Parliament urged the
commission to suspend the EUR2 million funding and consider restrictive
measures against individuals connected to the Russian pavilion.
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