Koyo Kouoh Named Artistic Director of 2026 Venice Biennale

The Swiss-Cameroonian curator is the first African woman to lead the prestigious art exhibition, marking a significant milestone in its history.

Koyo Kouoh, a prominent curator and director of Cape Town's Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), will curate the 61st Venice Biennale, running from April to November 2026.
Kouoh is the first African woman and second African-born curator to lead the Biennale, following Okwui Enwezor in 2015.
Her appointment defies expectations of a nationalist shift under the right-wing Meloni government, with Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco emphasizing Kouoh's global vision and innovative approach.
Kouoh has a distinguished curatorial background, including founding the RAW Material Company in Senegal and organizing major exhibitions such as 'When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting.'
The 2026 Biennale is anticipated to reflect Kouoh's commitment to addressing socio-political issues through art, continuing her advocacy for diverse and underrepresented voices.