After a six-year absence from the Venice Biennale, India has announced its return in 2026. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, union minister of culture and tourism, broke the news on October 10 while speaking at a national conference on tribal arts in New Delhi.

Emphasizing that tribal communities are custodians of the country’s environment, natural resources, and cultural heritage, he revealed that works by emerging Indigenous artists would form part of the Indian contingent at the upcoming Biennale. Specifically, select artworks from “Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre,” an exhibition highlighting emerging Indigenous artists and co-organized by New Delhi’s nonprofit Sankala Foundation, will be included in the national pavilion.

India has participated in the 130-year-old Biennale only twice, staging national pavilions in 2011 and 2019. Their limited presence at the prestigious event reflects inconsistent government support and administrative challenges. Despite this, Indian artists have gained increasing international visibility in recent years, through collateral exhibitions and inclusion in the main international shows. In 2024, Adrian Pedrosa’s exhibition featured 12 Indian artists—the highest number ever featured in the event’s main international pavilion. 

India’s participation in next year’s Biennale will see greater alignment between the country’s public and private cultural sectors, as the latter currently leads in promoting Indian art to both international and local audiences.

Iain Cocks is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.