In 2026, a rare alignment of major biennial exhibitions will take place globally, including the Venice Biennale (opening May 9, curated by Koyo Kouoh), MoMA PS1's Greater New York, the Whitney Biennial, and the Bronx Museum's AIM Biennial, alongside events in Toronto, Pittsburgh, Gwangju, Sydney, Diriyah, and Busan. CULTURED interviewed curators from four of these shows—such as Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer of the Whitney Biennial—to explore how these sprawling group exhibitions come together, revealing a trend toward smaller, internally organized shows with less declarative themes.
This matters because biennials have become key barometers of the contemporary art world, reflecting shifts in scale, collaboration, and curatorial approach. The 2026 slate suggests an art world recalibrating after decades of expansion, with many exhibitions right-sizing and focusing on internal staff rather than high-profile independent curators, offering insight into how institutions navigate uncertainty and changing priorities.