The Biennale di Venezia, founded in 1895, owes its name to the International Exposition of Art that was held every two years in the Castello Gardens.

 In the 1930s, the institution became an autonomous body answering directly to the Italian government. This period saw the beginning of the Festival of Music (1930), the International Film Festival (1932) and the International Theatre Festival (1934) - all these exhibitions being accompanied by special events and retrospectives dedicated to artists from Italy and abroad. It was in this period that the Biennale became established as one of the major institutions for the organization of events relating to the various areas of contemporary arts and culture.

 The political upheaval of 1968 affected the Biennale and it suspended some of its traditional activities. In 1973 the organization was reformed, and since 1975 it has also organized International Exhibitions of Architecture.

 On 23 January 1998 the law establishing the new statute for the Biennale was approved.

  Countries that own their Pavilions (27 Countries & 26 Pavilions)