Organizer Information
The Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) is a major international contemporary‑art festival based in Bangkok, Thailand. Since its inception in 2018, BAB has invited artists from around the world to transform the city’s cultural landmarks, museums, public spaces, temples, and urban fabric into stages for contemporary art. The festival aims to position Bangkok as a global cultural hub and platform for dialogue, creativity, and public art.
Title & Description
BAB 2026 Open Call — Performance Art Edition (Theme: “Angels & Mara”)
BAB 2026 invites performance artists from Southeast Asia to submit proposals for live, site‑specific, or durational performances set to take place in public spaces, cultural landmarks, or other venues across Bangkok as part of the fifth edition of the Biennale. The 2026 theme, “Angels & Mara,” explores dualities of light and darkness, virtue and temptation, spiritual transcendence and earthly struggle — inviting artists to engage with those themes through performance, movement, sound, or cross‑disciplinary live art.
The festival seeks works that respond to the urban and spiritual context of Bangkok, creating immersive or socially engaged experiences that resonate with the city’s landscape and public audience.
Categories
- Performance Art (live or durational works)
- Dance / Choreography / Movement-based performance
- Experimental Theatre or Spoken‑Word / Poetry / Performance-based narrative works
- Sound Art performances or live sound / music-based performance
- Cross‑disciplinary, hybrid, or site‑specific live works (including combinations of movement, sound, performance, spatial intervention)
Eligibility
- Open to individuals, collectives, or collaborative groups.
- Nationality: Artists must be from Southeast Asia (member countries include Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste, Vietnam).
- Minimum age: 20 years old.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Curatorial support and technical support for production & performance.
- Airfare and per diem support (up to THB 30,000, based on actual usage).
- Accommodation and insurance for up to 7 days (provided by BAB).
- Standard artist fee / honorarium: THB 20,000.
- International exposure via BAB platforms and a chance to present in public spaces and major cultural venues across Bangkok.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- A Project Proposal (max ~800 words) describing concept, relevance to the “Angels & Mara” theme, artistic intention, format/duration/frequency of performance, and audience engagement.
- Supporting Materials: portfolio of past performances (up to 10 images and/or video links), sketches or diagrams of the proposed work.
- Artist Information: short bio/practice description (up to 300 words), a 1-page CV, contact details, website or social media links.
- Optional: preferred venues or context (indoor/outdoor) if the proposal requires particular spatial conditions.
Submission format: one single PDF file (max 6 pages, 10 MB, A4 format) in English or Thai.
Only one application per individual artist or per collective is permitted.
How to Apply
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 14 December 2025
- Notification Date: 28 February 2026
Location
Bangkok, Thailand
Additional Details
- This call is only for performance‑based practices. Traditional static visual art (painting, installation, etc.) is not eligible under this call.
- The festival discourages reliance on conventional theater infrastructure — artists should design proposals that can adapt to the unique and varied architectural and public‑space contexts of Bangkok.
- Past participation in BAB does not exclude artists from applying again.
- The form cannot be saved mid-way — prepare all materials prior to applying to avoid loss.
- Selected artists will collaborate with a BAB curator to finalize site selection and presentation details.