The 17th International Architecture Exhibition for the Venice Biennale has been postponed for a second time due to the Coronavirus pandemic and is now rescheduled to take place May 22nd to November 21, 2021. 

The exhibition, titled How Will We Live Together? and curated by Hashim Sarkis, was originally scheduled to take place in Venice from August 29th through November 29th 2020, but has been moved to next year as an "acknowledgment that it is impossible to move forward – within the set time limits – in the realization of such a complex and worldwide exhibition, due to the persistence of a series of objective difficulties caused by the effects by the health emergency underway," according to the La Biennale organization.

Additionally, the 59th International Art Exhibition, curated by Cecilia Alemani, meant to accompany the architecture show has also been postponed for a year and will now take place in 2022. 

The organization continues, "The current situation, up to now, has definitely prejudiced the realization of the Exhibition in its entirety, jeopardizing the realization, transport and presence of the works and consequently the quality of the Exhibition itself. Therefore, after consulting with the Curator Hashim Sarkis and in consideration of the problems, the invited architects, Participating Countries, institutions, Collateral Events are facing, thanking all of them for their efforts so far, La Biennale has decided to postpone the opening date of the Biennale Architettura to the year 2021, extending its duration back to the customary six months, from May 22nd to November 21st."

In an announcement highlighting the change, Hashin Sarkis writes, "I am deeply moved by the perseverance of all the Participants during the last three months," adding, "I hope that the new opening date will allow them first to catch their breath, and then to complete their work with the time and vigor it truly deserves. We did not plan it this way. Neither the question I asked How will we live together? nor the wealth of ways in response to it, were meant to address the crisis they are living, but here we are. We are in some ways fortunate because we are well equipped to absorb the immediate and longer-term implications of the crisis into the Biennale Architettura 2021. The theme does also provide us with the possibility to respond to the pandemic in its immediacy. This is why we will return to Venice in the coming months for a series of activities devoted to the Architecture.”

To which La Biennale President Robert Cicutto added, “The last few days have clarified the real state of the situation we are all facing. With the utmost respect for the work done by all of us, the investments made by the Participants, and considering the difficulties that all countries, institutions, universities, architectural studios have met together with the uncertainty of the shipments, personal travel restraints and COVID-19 protective measures that are being and were be adopted, we have decided to listen to those, the majority, who requested that the Biennale Architettura be postponed."