
Mesopotamia meets contemporary art: the seventh Mardin Biennial arrives
La Mesopotamia incontra l’arte contemporanea: arriva la settima Biennale di Mardin
The seventh edition of the Mardin Biennial will take place from June 15 to 21, 2026, in the southeastern Turkish city of Mardin. Curated by Çelenk Bafra, artistic director of Istanbul Modern, the biennial is titled "GÖKzemin" / "SKYground" and centers on the symbolic figure of the bird, a motif deeply rooted in Mesopotamian imagery. For the first time, the event expands beyond the historic city center to include peripheral and archaeological sites such as the ancient city of Dara, the Hammam of Kızıltepe, and the Deyrulzafaran Monastery, creating a dialogue between contemporary art, architecture, and territory.




