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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Philip Oltermann European culture editor

Koyo Kouoh appointed curator of 2026 Venice Biennale

Koyo Kouoh, curator of Venice Biennale 2026.
Koyo Kouoh, curator of Venice Biennale 2026. Photograph: Mirjam Kluka

The Venice Biennale has for the first time appointed an African woman as the curator of its contemporary art festival, wrong-footing those who expected the world’s oldest and biggest cultural exhibition to take a more nationalistic course under the right wing Meloni government.

Swiss-Cameroonian curator Koyo Kouoh has been put in charge of the 61st edition of the Biennale Arte, which will take place in Venice from April to November 2026.

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