'2026 Busan Biennale' spotlights Venice Biennale standout—with a twist on its 16,000-won admission fee

Opening June 29 with 46 artists from 22 countries; two venues on Yeongdo and at a former high school will be entirely free

The global art world is turning its attention to Busan once again. The '2026 Busan Biennale' will open in grand fashion on June 29, bringing together 46 artists from 22 countries on an imposing scale.

Solidarity forged through art, as acclaimed international artists join forces

The event, presented ambitiously by the Busan Metropolitan Government and the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee, runs through Nov. 1. Across three venues—the main exhibition site, the 'Busan Museum of Contemporary Art', along with 'Space Wonji' on Yeongdo and the 'former Busan Nam High School'—the exhibition explores the weighty theme of 'Dissident Chorus.'

The curatorial vision of co-directors 'Evelyn Simons' and 'Amal Khalaf,' selected through an international open call, is another highlight. They said they would "closely trace the ways sound and the body connect humanity and have built resistance and solidarity throughout history."

The participating artists are a truly landmark lineup. A new work by 'Julien Creuzet,' who represented the French Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale, will be unveiled exclusively. Filipino performance artist 'Joshua Serafin' and internationally acclaimed artist 'Eric Baudelaire' will also take part, further elevating the exhibition. Leading figures in South Korea's art scene, including 'Kang Seo-kyung,' 'Dew Kim,' 'Ryu Seong-sil' and 'Im Min-wook,' will be joined by 'Park Hyun-sung' and 'Lee Dong-geun,' whose work translates Busan's local identity into a global artistic language. Together, they will present multidimensional works spanning installation, sound and video.

The exhibition breaks beyond the boundaries of passive viewing. Performances and workshops that invite visitors to listen, breathe and engage physically will converge organically with discussion programs, offering a multisensory artistic experience.

The most notable features are the unconventional venue operations and admission benefits. General admission to the 'Busan Museum of Contemporary Art' is set at 16,000 won (8,000 won for youths, military personnel and police officers; 5,000 won for children), but the other two venues—the 'Space Wonji' and the 'former Busan Nam High School'—will be fully open to the public free of charge. The decision reflects the organizing committee's commitment to lowering the barriers to art. The opening ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. on June 28 at the 'Busan Museum of Contemporary Art.'