Biennale of Sydney 2026 explores forgotten histories

The Biennale of Sydney has announced the theme, venues and first cohort of 37 artists and collectives for its 25th edition, opening 14 March 2026. Titled Rememory, the free, city-wide festival is helmed by internationally renowned curator Hoor Al Qasimi.

Borrowing its title from American author Toni Morrison, Rememory invites reflection on the interplay between memory and history. “Rememory connects the delicate space between remembering and forgetting,” said Al Qasimi. “Through the defiant act of sharing, seeing, and understanding, the artists and cultural practitioners I’ve invited… explore the hidden effects of history and how it continues to shape the present.”

Al Qasimi’s curatorial approach focuses on the histories of each place and multidisciplinary programming, with a collaborative perspective and emphasis on supporting experimentation and innovation in the arts.

In partnership with Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, the Biennale has commissioned 15 First Nations artists from around the world to create new works for the edition. Fondation Cartier First Nations Curatorial Fellow Bruce Johnson McLean, a Wierdi man of the Birri Gubba Nation, will collaborate with the artists to bring their visions to life.

“It’s a privilege to work alongside this remarkable group,” said Johnson McLean. “Together, their practices speak to deep cultural knowledge, ancestral memory and contemporary experience.”

Community will play a central role in 2026, with arts worker Claudia Chidiac and cultural producer Paula Abood appointed as Community Ambassadors for Greater Western Sydney. A tailored children’s program will also ensure stories are carried to the next generation.

“The Biennale of Sydney is a space for discussion, exploration and sharing ideas,” said CEO Barbara Moore. “This edition celebrates the diverse communities of Sydney and their stories, encouraging audiences to rethink how memory shapes identity and belonging.”

The Biennale will run from 14 March to 14 June 2026 across multiple venues, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney, Penrith Regional Gallery and the restored White Bay Power Station.

Further program details will be announced later this year. Visit the Biennale of Sydney website for more information.

The first 37 artists and collectives are: Abdul Abdullah, Ángel Poyón, Angélica Serech, Bouchra Khalili, CAMP, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Carmen Glynn-Braun, Chang En Man, Chen Chieh-jen, Daisy Quezada Ureña, DAAR, Deirdre O’Mahony, Dennis Golding, Dread Scott, Edgar Calel, Elverina Johnson, Ema Shin, Fernando Poyón, Frank Young & The Kulata Tjuta Project, Gabriel Chaile, Gunybi Ganambarr, John Harvey & Walter Waia, John Prince Siddon, Kapwani Kiwanga, Lamia Joreige, Marian Abboud, Maritea Dæhlin, Merilyn Fairskye & Michiel Dolk, Michael Rakowitz, Nancy Yukuwal McDinny, Rose B. Simpson, Tania Willard, Taysir Batniji, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, Warraba Weatherall, Wendy Hubert, Yaritji Young.