A Curator’s Guide to the Venice Biennale | Ebony L. Haynes with Adrienne Edwards

Curator Adrienne Edwards joins guest host Ebony L. Haynes to share their tips, tricks, and must-see shows from the 2026 Venice Biennale, the sixty-first iteration of the world’s largest and longest-running art biennale. 

This year’s Venice Biennale opened to great acclaim in May, under especially poignant circumstances: its acclaimed curator, the Cape Town–based Koyo Kouoh, had passed away in 2025, just a few months into the planning. The two discuss the impact of her passing as they call out a number of their favorite presentations to help listeners sift through the many on view. A veteran of many Biennales and former juror, Edwards also explains how to navigate the city and make the most of your visit. 

The Biennale Arte 2026 is now on view through November 22, 2026. Learn more here: https://www.labiennale.org/en/art/2026

Adrienne Edwards is the Engell Speyer Family Senior Curator and associate director of curatorial programs at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. 

Ebony L. Haynes is a New York–based curator and is the global head of curatorial projects at David Zwirner. She is the curator of the forthcoming exhibition Roy DeCarava: the sound i saw, opening at David Zwirner Los Angeles on September 19.

Image: Bogna Burska and Daniel Kotowski, Liquid Tongues, 2026 (video still)

Presentations & Artists Mentioned:

8:45: Koyo Kouoh, In Minor Keys 

10:04: Artist Issa Samb included in In Minor Keys 

14:30:  Alfredo Jaar, The End of the World (2023–2024)

14:40: Rose Salane, Panorama 94  

15:14: Denniston Hill

15:33: fierce pussy, organized by Jo-ey Tang: arms ache avid aeon: fierce pussy amplified, Chapter Nine20:30  Sumakshi Singh in India’s first pavilion ever

21:16 Ei Arakawa-Nash for the Japanese National Pavilion 

23:33: The Austrian Pavilion

28:33 Richard Prince and Arthur Jafa at Fondazione Prada, curated by Nancy Spector

31:57: Bogna Burska and Daniel Kotowski at the Polish National Pavilion 36:39: Lorna Simpson at the Palazzo Grassi - Pinault Collection 

37:38: Michael Armitage at the Palazzo Grassi - Pinault Collection