It wouldn’t be the Venice Biennale without some geopolitical drama, but this year’s 61st edition may well take the cake. The global event has, once again, brought to the fore high-stakes debates about who deserves a platform and the purpose of art in an increasingly polarized world. The fallout has seen some nations withdraw, while others plan to participate in the face of fierce backlash. And that’s before we even get to the art. Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest news so far. Russia’s Return Roils Europe Russia’s comeback to the Biennale in 2026 was a curveball few saw coming. The resulting backlash has caused chaos, with Italian culture minister Alessandro Giuli pledging to boycott the Biennale’s opening week in protest. So far, nearly 10,000 artists, cultural leaders, academics, and policy makers signed an open letter calling on the Biennale’s organizers “to reaffirm the ethical principles” of the institution.…