The Biennale’s management announced on May 4 that the Islamic Republic would not take part in the 61st edition of the exhibition. No official explanation was issued for Tehran’s decision, which comes amid escalating political tensions surrounding the prestigious art gathering.

The event opened on May 9 and will run through November 22.

The withdrawal follows days of turmoil at the Biennale, where artists and cultural workers staged coordinated protests against Israel’s inclusion over the war in Gaza. Around a dozen national pavilions, including those of Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and South Korea, temporarily shut their doors Friday in solidarity actions organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance.

Large pro-Palestinian demonstrations also swept through Venice, with Italian police blocking protesters from approaching the Israeli pavilion at the Arsenale complex. International media reported brief clashes as thousands marched through the lagoon city.

The controversy has already upended the Biennale’s traditional awards structure. A five-member jury stepped down from judging the coveted Golden Lion and Silver Lion prizes following disputes linked to Israel and Russia’s participation. Organizers later unveiled a replacement “People’s Lions” voting system that will allow visitors to select winners, with the awards ceremony postponed until November 22.

Iran had returned to the Venice Biennale in 2003 after nearly three decades away and remained a regular participant in subsequent editions. Its 2024 pavilion, titled “Children of Adam Are Limbs of One Another,” focused on women’s issues and drew attention for its humanistic theme rooted in classical Persian literature.

This year’s Biennale, featuring more than 100 countries, has increasingly become a flashpoint where cultural diplomacy, international conflict and artistic expression collide on one of the world’s most influential art stages.