Hoor Al Qasimi has been announced as the next artistic director of the Biennale of Sydney. For the 25th edition, the President and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation will work with local communities, artists and academics to develop the concept for 2026.
Al Qasimi’s curatorial practice focuses on the histories of locations through a collaborative approach with multidisciplinary programming and an emphasis on experimentation and innovation.
“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. It is an honour and privilege to be nominated and then selected to be Artistic Director of the 25th Biennale of Sydney, which I have been visiting for over a decade now. I have seen the developments over the years, including the amplification of Indigenous voices both local and global, which has made it an essential platform for rewriting art history,” shares Hoor Al Qasimi, Artistic Director of the 25th Biennale of Sydney.
Al Qasimi founded the Sharjah Art Foundation in 2009 and has been the Director Sharjah Biennale since 2002 and the Curator for the 2023 edition. In 2017, she was appointed as the President of the International Biennial Association (IBA) and currently serves as the President of The Africa Institute, Global Studies University, Sharjah, as well as the President and Director of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial. Al Qasimi was also appointed as the Artistic Director of the sixth Aichi Triennale.
Triennale which is due to open in 2025.
The 25th Biennale of Sydney runs from 7 March to 8 June 2026 (updated dates 14 March to 14 June)
