The current Istanbul Biennial, titled "The Three-Legged Cat," will end prematurely after its first leg because curator Christine Tohmé resigned due to personal circumstances. The biennial was conceived as a three-part show spanning three years, with an academic program planned for 2026 and a second exhibition set for 2027. The first exhibition ran from September 20 to November 23 across eight venues in Istanbul, attracting over 600,000 visitors. The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV), which manages the event, announced the conclusion and stated that planning for the 19th Istanbul Biennial in 2027 will begin soon, with a curator announcement expected in 2026.
This abrupt end matters because the Istanbul Biennial is one of the world's leading contemporary art exhibitions, and its cancellation follows a history of turmoil. The 18th edition was already delayed by a year after a contentious shakeup of its curatorial leadership, including the resignation of curator Iwona Blazwick and three committee members amid controversy over the Turkish government's denial of the Armenian genocide. The biennial's struggles highlight ongoing tensions between artistic freedom and political pressures in Turkey, raising questions about the sustainability of major international art events in politically charged environments.