The 11th edition of the Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Art (GI) takes place from 5-21 June 2026 across 32 venues in Glasgow, featuring over 60 artists. Highlights include Renèe Helèna Browne's moving image installation 'Flat' at the Briggait, which documents the mica scandal in Donegal and her uncle's resilience; James Gladwell's joyful cross-stitch drawings at Project Ability; Joanna Piotrowska's Jungian-inspired photographic collages at The Common Guild; and a collaborative archival presentation of Katy Dove and Lygia Clark at Kinning Park Complex. The festival is reviewed by Beth Williamson, who emphasizes the warmth, generosity, and creative spirit of the biennial.
This edition matters because it demonstrates how a major biennial can remain relevant by directly engaging with local and global realities. The festival's deep embedding in Glasgow's communities and its support for artists tackling urgent social issues—such as the housing crisis in Ireland—underscores the role of contemporary art in fostering connection, resilience, and cross-border dialogue. The review also highlights the festival's ability to flatten hierarchies and create a sense of collective experience, reinforcing Glasgow's reputation as a vital hub for contemporary art.