Busan Biennale 2026 Kicks Off August 29
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□ Busan Metropolitan City, in cooperation with the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee, presents Busan Biennale 2026 from August 29 to November 1, 2026, under the theme ‘Dissident Chorus.’
○ The Busan Biennale is an international contemporary art festival held every two years. Launched in 1981 as the Busan Youth Biennale, it was renamed as the Busan Biennale after the organizing committee was established in 2000.
○ This year’s edition takes place at three locations on Eulsukdo Island and Yeongdo Island: the Busan Museum of Contemporary Art, Space OneZ, and the former Busan Nam High School.
○ Visitors can move between the three venues, each with their own distinct history and atmosphere, and encounter diverse voices and sensations.
□ Dissident Chorus looks at the value of nonverbal communication and collective solidarity with a focus on sound and the body, while incorporating audio archives from Busan to accentuate the societal roles of labor, migration, and resistance.
□ Belgian curator Evelyn Simons and British-Bahraini curator Amal Khalaf were appointed co-artistic directors through an open call that attracted over 70 teams. A total of 46 artists from 22 countries are set to join the lineup.
○ The two directors have developed this year’s biennale event based on their extensive expertise encompassing contemporary art, performance, sound, and community practices.
○ Works in various genres—installation, sound, performance, video, and sculpture—examine how sound and the body draw people together, foster defiance and unity, and grapple with the pressing issues of our time in the context of art.
○ A range of related programs—performances, workshops, and talks—invite audiences to go beyond simply viewing exhibitions by inviting them to listen, exchange ideas, and take part in person.
○ Foreign artists include Joshua Serafin, a Filipino performance artist; Julien Creuzet, from Martinique, a French overseas department, who represented the French Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale; and Éric Baudelaire, known for his films and installations.
○ Featured Korean artists include Suki Seokyeong Kang, Dew Kim, Sungsil Ryu, and Minouk Lim, as well as Hyunsung Park, Lee Dong-Keun, and The House of Korean Protest Songs, all active in Busan.
□ Busan Biennale 2026 runs daily from August 29 to November 1, from 10:00 to 18:00, except on Mondays.
○ Multilingual audio guides are available via QR codes. Docent tours that do not require a prior reservation are offered at the Busan Museum of Contemporary Art and the former Busan Nam High School.
○ Admission to the Busan Museum of Contemporary Art is 16,000 won for adults, 8,000 won for teens and military and police personnel, and 5,000 won for children. Ticket purchase can be made at NOL or at the box office on the first floor. Space OneZ and the former Busan Nam High School are free of charge.
○ A complimentary shuttle service serves the Busan Museum of Contemporary Art, Space OneZ, and the former Busan Nam High School.
○ Learn more at busanbiennale2026.com.
□ Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “We are committed to positioning the Busan Biennale as a world-class landmark that can contribute to growing Busan into a global cultural tourism hub.”
