The 18th Istanbul Biennial, organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), will conclude after its first phase following curator Christine Tohmé’s decision to step down due to personal circumstances.
Held between 20 September and 23 November 2025, the first phase of the biennial took place across eight venues in Istanbul and welcomed more than 600,000 visitors. Originally conceived by Tohmé as a three-phase project unfolding over three years, the biennial was planned to include an academic programme in 2026 and a second exhibition phase in 2027. In light of the curator’s decision, however, the programme will not continue as initially envisioned, and the 18th Istanbul Biennial will conclude with its first phase.
Preparations for the 19th Istanbul Biennial, scheduled for 2027, will begin in the coming days. Following consultations with the advisory board—comprising Ahu Antmen, Lydia Gatundu Galavu, Gözde İlkin, Renan Laru-an, and Sally Tallant—the curator for the next edition is expected to be announced in 2026.
