Mario Banushi wins Venice Biennale Silver Lion
The Coronet Theatre warmly congratulates Mario Banushi on being awarded the Silver Lion at the 2026 Venice Theatre Biennale, one of the most prestigious honours in international theatre. The award recognises outstanding emerging artists whose work is shaping the future of the artform.
Audiences at The Coronet encountered Banushi’s singular theatrical language last year in Taverna Miresia, a work that demonstrated the qualities for which he has rapidly become one of the most exciting voices in contemporary European theatre. Born in Greece and raised between Greece and Albania, Banushi has developed a distinctive practice that draws on memory, ritual, family histories and Balkan cultural traditions, creating performances that communicate through image, gesture and atmosphere as much as through text.
Announcing the award, the Venice Biennale praised Banushi’s “poetic, elliptical language” and his ability to create work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. The jury highlighted the way his theatre explores mourning, absence, memory and family traditions through intimate yet shared experiences, transforming everyday sounds, objects and gestures into powerful theatrical ceremonies.
The Silver Lion comes at a landmark moment in Banushi’s career. At this year’s Biennale, under the artistic direction of Willem Dafoe, he presented for the first time his complete Romance Familiare trilogy: Ragada, Goodbye, Lindita and Taverna Miresia. Together, the three works form a profound meditation on family, migration, loss and belonging, rooted in Banushi’s own experiences while speaking to broader questions of identity and memory.
Critics and audiences alike have been drawn to the emotional intensity of Banushi’s theatre. Writing from the festival, The Guardian described the trilogy as an exploration of family bereavement, memory and burial rites, noting the intimate, immersive quality of his staging and the extraordinary emotional force of the work.
For those who experienced Taverna Miresia at The Coronet, the award comes as welcome recognition of an artist whose work is already making a significant impact on the international stage. Banushi has often spoken about creating theatre that is felt rather than explained, inviting audiences to bring their own memories and experiences into the performance. As he told The New York Times, quoted by the Biennale: “I want to create theatre that people feel, not theatre people understand.”
We are delighted to see Mario Banushi receive this richly deserved honour and look forward to following the next chapter of his remarkable artistic journey.