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 four-hour work, centered on nude fertility rituals rooted in Balkan traditions, will be joined by other multidisciplinary works including Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's sound installation "clinamen," Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" conducted by Alan Pierson, a Simon Stone production of "The Cherry Orchard" set in modern-day Seoul, and a Benjamin Millepied dance piece based on Romeo and Juliet. All performances will take place in the Armory's Drill Hall.
The program underscores the Armory's continued commitment to presenting boundary-pushing, interdisciplinary performance art that challenges audiences intellectually and emotionally. Abramović's piece, which recently premiered in the UK to critical acclaim for its ability to reframe taboos around the body, is expected to draw significant attention from the art world. Armory founding president Rebecca Robertson emphasized that the works offer new perspectives on art and culture, and she expressed confidence that the institution's programming would remain unaffected by political pressures on the arts.