The Park Avenue Armory in New York has announced its 2026 program, headlined by the US premiere of Marina Abramović's provocative performance piece "Balkan Erotic Epic" on December 8. The program also includes Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" conducted by Alan Pierson, Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's installation "clinamen," a Simon Stone production of "The Cherry Orchard" set in modern-day Seoul, and a Benjamin Millepied dance work based on "Romeo and Juliet." All performances will take place in the Armory's Drill Hall.
The announcement underscores the Armory's continued commitment to interdisciplinary, boundary-pushing performance art that challenges audiences intellectually. Abramović's piece, centered on fertility rituals and nudity, is expected to draw significant attention for its taboo-breaking exploration of the body. Founding president Rebecca Robertson emphasized that the programming remains undaunted by political pressures, asserting the arts' enduring role in cultural contribution.