The Biennale of Sydney has appointed Hoor Al Qasimi, one of the world’s top curators, as the artistic director of the recurring exhibition’s 25th edition, scheduled to run March 7 to June 8, 2026.
Al Qasimi is the president and director of the Sharjah Art Foundation in the United Arab Emirates, which she founded in 2009. Additionally, she has been the director of the Sharjah Biennial since 2002; unlike past editions, she curated that exhibition’s most recent edition, realizing a concept by late curator Okwui Enwezor. She has been the president of the International Biennial Association since 2017 and she is also the artistic director for the 2025 Aichi Triennale.
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In a statement, Al Qasimi said, “Sydney has a multicultural community at its core, with people from different cultures from across the world choosing and calling this vibrant city as their home. I’m interested in exploring the multifaceted cultures and perspectives within this city, working with local artists and communities, as well as bringing new voices to the Biennale.”
The current edition of the Sydney Biennale runs until June 10 and is curated by Cosmin Costinaş and Inti Guerrero. Titled “Ten Thousand Suns,” the exhibition, according to a curatorial statement, “proposes celebration as both a method and a source of joy, produced in common and broadly shared, drawing inspiration from histories of queer coming-together to thrive in spite of it all.” It features Frank Bowling, Mariana Castillo Deball, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Chitra Ganesh, Josh Kline, Candice Lin, Demond Melancon, Eric-Paul Riege, and Martin Wong, among others.
“Community, culture, and connection are at the core of the Biennale of Sydney, and a vital component of any vibrant cultural landscape,” Biennale CEO Barbara Moore said in a statement. “We are thrilled to welcome Hoor Al Qasimi as the Artistic Director for our 25th edition. Al Qasimi’s profound dedication to fostering international artistic and cultural exchange and her visionary approach to curatorial practice make her the perfect fit to lead the artistic direction of the Biennale of Sydney. Her commitment to amplifying diverse voices and engaging with local communities aligns seamlessly with our mission to create a platform where art brings people together to connect and learn from each other in meaningful ways.”