Judges for the Venice Biennale have stepped down following controversy over reports that Israel and Russia would not be considered for the exhibition's main awards. Although both countries remain official participants and are expected to present national pavilions, they were reportedly excluded from award consideration.

The jury's statements did not explicitly name the countries involved, but the reference was widely understood to concern Israel and Russia. The situation has drawn attention due to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza, as well as for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

The development has intensified debate around the role of international cultural events amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts, raising questions about participation, recognition, and accountability on the global stage.