Oman to showcase cultural vision at 2026 Venice Biennale

MUSCAT – Oman is set to participate in the 61st Venice Biennale, one of the world’s leading showcases of contemporary art, with a national pavilion designed to project the sultanate’s cultural outlook and expand its presence on the international arts scene.

The exhibition, which runs from May 9 to November 22 in Venice, will see Oman present its contribution at the Arsenale, one of the event’s principal venues and a focal point for global artistic exchange.

Organised under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Omani pavilion will explore contemporary artistic expressions centered on human experience, reflecting a broader national emphasis on balance, harmony and care in cultural production.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Sayyid Saud bin Hilal Al Busaidi said the participation underscores Oman’s commitment to strengthening its cultural footprint internationally while fostering intellectual and artistic dialogue in line with the ambitions of Oman Vision 2040.

He described the initiative as part of a wider effort to position culture as a conduit for dialogue between civilisations, offering an artistic narrative that reflects shared human values and a balanced relationship between people and their environment.

Artistic supervisor Haitham al-Busafi said the pavilion presents a vision shaped by renewed attention to themes of care and awareness, encouraging reflection on the connections between individuals and their surroundings.

The exhibition is designed to invite contemplation and engagement through a visual language marked by restraint and depth, creating an immersive experience that resonates with wider global conversations in contemporary art.

Oman’s participation is framed by a set of cultural principles that highlight diversity, human connection and mutual respect, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens that aligns with ongoing shifts in the global cultural landscape.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential platforms for contemporary art, the Venice Biennale brings together national pavilions from across the world, providing a space for dialogue, experimentation and the exchange of creative ideas on an international scale.