Sydney Biennale 2026: Hoor Al Qasimi Unveils Expansive 'Rememory' Programme
The Biennale of Sydney has revealed comprehensive details for its landmark 25th edition, scheduled to open in mid-March 2026. This significant cultural event will unfold across five key venues, showcasing an ambitious programme that reflects the distinctive vision of its artistic director, Hoor Al Qasimi.
A Global Gathering of Artistic Voices
Titled "Rememory"—a term coined by the celebrated author Toni Morrison—the Biennale promises to delve deeply into the intricate connections between memory and history. The curatorial framework aims to facilitate a process of revisiting, reconstructing, and reclaiming narratives through contemporary artistic practice.
The exhibition will feature a remarkable roster of 84 artists, collaborative projects, and collectives hailing from 37 different nations, including a strong contingent from Australia itself. This international assembly underscores the Biennale's commitment to presenting a diverse and global perspective on its central theme.
Key Venues and Notable Highlights
The 2026 edition will utilise several prominent locations across Sydney, marking an expanded footprint for the festival. Confirmed venues include the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the White Bay Power Station in Rozelle, and the Penrith Regional Gallery, which is participating for the very first time. The programme also returns to Campbelltown Arts Centre and incorporates the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney.
Several major artistic projects have been announced as centrepieces of the event. These include a large-scale, functioning clay oven created by Argentinian sculptor Gabriel Chaile, which will be activated during the opening weekend at White Bay Power Station to serve Peruvian cuisine to visitors. Another community-focused work by Lebanese artist Mounira Al Solh will feature a substantial vat of tabbouleh as part of a performance in Granville.
A particularly significant presentation will be the rare exhibition of the monumental Ngurrara Canvas II. This 80-square-metre painting was created collaboratively by more than 40 Ngurrara artists from the Great Sandy Desert in Western Australia to support a native title claim in 1996. Its display at the Art Gallery of NSW will represent its final public showing before it returns permanently to its country of origin.
The Vision of Artistic Director Hoor Al Qasimi
The 2026 Biennale is firmly shaped by the curatorial direction of Hoor Al Qasimi, a highly influential figure in the international art world. Her appointment is historic, as she is the first Arab and the eighth woman to hold the position of artistic director in the festival's 53-year history.
Al Qasimi brings extensive experience, having led the Sharjah Biennial for over two decades and founded the Sharjah Art Foundation in 2009. Her curatorial portfolio includes prestigious institutions such as the Serpentine Galleries in London and the Venice Biennale. In 2024, she was named the most influential person in the art world by ArtReview magazine.
However, her appointment has not been without controversy. Statements she has made regarding the conflict in Gaza have drawn criticism from some quarters, including the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which labelled her selection as an example of cultural institutions adopting an "extremist anti-western political agenda." Reports also indicate that several donors have withdrawn their support from the Biennale following her appointment.
In response, a spokesperson for the Biennale of Sydney defended Al Qasimi's professional credentials, stating she was appointed for her "extensive professional expertise and artistic vision." The spokesperson emphasised that funding sources naturally fluctuate with each edition and reaffirmed the event's commitment to presenting a diversity of global perspectives, supported primarily by public funding from the Australian government.
Additional Programme Features and Satellite Events
The Biennale's programme extends beyond the main venues. It will include a multi-channel video work as part of the Code Black/Riot project, created by journalist Behrouz Boochani and artists Hoda Afshar and Vernon Ah Kee. This piece focuses on the voices and experiences of Indigenous youth in detention.
Public programmes and satellite events are planned across greater Sydney, including locations such as Centenary Square in Parramatta, Fairfield City Museum & Gallery, and Redfern Town Hall. The expansive White Bay Power Station will host large-scale sculptural and installation works by artists including US-based Nikesha Breeze and painter Nancy Yukuwal McDinny.
The 25th Biennale of Sydney, under the directorship of Hoor Al Qasimi, will run from 14 March to 14 June 2026. It stands as a major moment on the international arts calendar, aiming to provoke thought and broaden understanding through a powerful exploration of memory, history, and contemporary global discourse.
