Topic analysis

From Eurovision to the Venice Biennale, culture contests are being overshadowed by politics

Major international cultural events structured around national representation, including the 2026 Venice Biennale and Eurovision Song Contest, have been dominated by political controversies over the participation of countries accused of human rights abuses such as Russia and Israel, leading to boycotts, pavilion closures, and mass jury resignations. Non-national focused events like the Cannes Film Festival have seen far less political disruption, highlighting growing questions about the relevance of national identity framing for global arts events amid rising geopolitical polarization.