The Biennale of Sydney is Australia’s leading international contemporary art event and one of the longest-running biennials in the world. Founded in 1973, it is held every two years for around three months across museums, galleries and historic sites in Sydney, and its exhibitions, talks, performances and family programmes are free to the public. Over five decades it has presented more than 2,400 artists from over 130 countries.

Next Edition: the 26th Biennale of Sydney (2028)

The 26th Biennale of Sydney opens to the public on 11 March 2028, with professional preview days (Vernissage) from 8 to 10 March. Its Artistic Director is Low Kee Hong, founding director of the Singapore Biennale and creative director of Factory International in Manchester, who plans an edition spanning contemporary art, music, architecture, performance, literature, food and fashion, with an exhibition of contemporary art at its core.

The 25th Biennale of Sydney: Rememory (2026)

The 25th edition, Rememory, ran from 14 March to 14 June 2026, curated by Artistic Director Hoor Al Qasimi. Its title comes from a concept by author Toni Morrison, and the exhibition explored how memory and history can revisit and reclaim narratives that have been erased or repressed. Works were shown at White Bay Power Station, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Campbelltown Arts Centre, the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney and Penrith Regional Gallery, with a strong focus on Western Sydney. Bruce Johnson McLean, a Wierdi curator, worked on the edition as the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain First Nations Curatorial Fellow.

Venues

Each edition chooses its own venues. White Bay Power Station, a restored former power station in Rozelle, has become a central site since the Biennale first opened it as an arts venue in 2024, when it alone welcomed more than 173,000 visitors.

Recent Editions

Edition Year Title Artistic Director(s) Dates
23rd 2022 rīvus José Roca 12 March – 13 June 2022
24th 2024 Ten Thousand Suns Cosmin Costinaș & Inti Guerrero 9 March – 10 June 2024
25th 2026 Rememory Hoor Al Qasimi 14 March – 14 June 2026
26th 2028 To be announced Low Kee Hong From 11 March 2028

The 24th edition recorded around 777,000 visits across six venues.

Website: biennaleofsydney.art

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the next Biennale of Sydney?
The 26th Biennale of Sydney opens to the public on 11 March 2028, with professional preview days from 8 to 10 March 2028. The Biennale is held every two years and usually runs for around three months, from March to June.

2. Is the Biennale of Sydney free?
Yes. The Biennale of Sydney’s exhibitions are free to visit, and its public programme of talks, performances, family events and guided tours is generally free too. Some special events may need booking, so check the official website.

3. Who is the Artistic Director of the 2028 Biennale of Sydney?
Low Kee Hong is the Artistic Director of the 26th Biennale of Sydney. He was the founding director of the Singapore Biennale and is creative director of Factory International in Manchester, and he plans an edition that brings many creative disciplines together around contemporary art.

4. What was the theme of the 25th Biennale of Sydney?
The 25th edition in 2026 was titled Rememory, after a concept by Toni Morrison. Curated by Hoor Al Qasimi, it explored how memory and history can be used to revisit and reclaim erased or repressed narratives, across five venues in Sydney.

5. Where is the Biennale of Sydney held?
Venues change with each edition. In 2026 they were White Bay Power Station, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Campbelltown Arts Centre, the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney and Penrith Regional Gallery.

6. When did the Biennale of Sydney start?
The first Biennale of Sydney took place in 1973, created as an international showcase for contemporary art. It is one of the oldest biennials in the Asia-Pacific region, and 2026 marked its 25th edition.