In minor steps; Venice Biennale 2026

The 61st Venice Biennale was conceived by Koyo Kouoh, the Cameroonian-Swiss curator. Following Koyo Kouoh’s death in May 2025, her plan for the Biennale is now being carried out by her team. “In Minor Keys” is the title Koyo Kouoh chose for this international art exhibition, inviting audiences not merely to view a show, but to slow down and engage with works that challenge dominant narratives through subtlety, emotion, and layered histories. Koyo Kouoh also sees artists not simply as observers, but as catalysts who, by blending the frequencies of the soul and the signals of the earth, create a polyphonic and poetic space. The Biennale’s performances likewise place the body at the center, turning it into a site of knowledge, memory, political resistance, and collective healing.