Mark your calendars for one of the most anticipated events in the contemporary art world! The Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025–26, South Asia’s longest-running and India’s first major contemporary art biennale, promises 110 days of creativity, dialogue, and inspiration, set against the historic and vibrant backdrop of Kochi, Kerala. This 6th edition, titled For the Time Being, curated by Nikhil Chopra, explores the richness of collaboration, friendship, and artistic exchange. With 66 artist projects spread across 22 venues, this biennale is not just an exhibition but an immersive cultural experience.
Celebrating Contemporary Art in Historic Kochi
The Biennale unfolds from December 12, 2025, to March 31, 2026, in Kochi, a city with deep-rooted cultural and historical significance. Known for its multicultural heritage and the fabled Chera harbour of Muziris, Kochi has been a hub of trade and exchange with the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. This rich history of interaction and cultural fusion becomes the canvas for contemporary artistic dialogues, bridging local and global narratives.
Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) is more than an exhibition; it is a living, breathing platform for artists and audiences to explore ideas, challenge perceptions, and engage in meaningful dialogue. Since its founding in 2010 by artists for artists, KMB has become a catalyst for contemporary artistic practice in India, fostering creativity while reviving heritage and cultural engagement.
For the Time Being: Curatorial Vision
Curated by Nikhil Chopra, a multidisciplinary artist associated with HH Art Spaces, the 6th edition focuses on process as methodology. It highlights friendship economies, collaborative networks, and artist-led initiatives, positioning relationships and exchanges at the core of the biennale experience. Chopra’s vision emphasizes experimentation and dynamic approaches to exhibition-making, encouraging artists to blur boundaries between mediums and disciplines, from performance and sculpture to immersive installations and photography.
This edition invites visitors to experience art not just as objects but as evolving practices, emphasizing the dialogues between creators, communities, and spaces. The biennale celebrates temporality, shared histories, and empathetic connections, inviting both reflection and participation.
Artists and Collectives to Watch
The 2025–26 edition features 66 artist projects, showcasing a diverse mix of local and international voices. Some of the participating artists and collectives include:
- Abul Hisham – exploring cultural narratives and immersive installations.
- Bhasha Chakrabarti – known for socio-political commentary through visual storytelling.
- Cinthia Marcelle – Brazilian artist blending video, photography, and installation.
- Dineo Seshee Bopape – creating poetic, layered works that address memory and identity.
- Gulam Mohammed Sheikh – legendary Indian painter and thinker.
- Jompet Kuswidananto – Indonesian contemporary artist experimenting with materiality.
- Khageswar Rout – Indian artist exploring traditional and modern practices.
- Mark Prime – UK-based multimedia artist engaging with performance and installation.
- Minam Apang – young talent from India bridging folk and contemporary narratives.
- Shiraz Bayjoo – Mauritian artist blending political history and contemporary art.
These artists, among many others, will animate Kochi’s historic venues with projects that invite reflection, engagement, and dialogue.
A Biennale Beyond Exhibitions
Kochi-Muziris Biennale is not limited to galleries. The event features talks, performances, workshops, and film screenings, ensuring that visitors experience a 360-degree engagement with contemporary art. Key programmes include:
- Students’ Biennale – providing young artists an opportunity to showcase experimental work.
- Invitations – curated artist exchanges highlighting cross-cultural dialogues.
- Art by Children – nurturing creativity among younger audiences.
- Residencies – fostering in-depth collaborations and site-specific practices.
The biennale’s programming encourages active participation, creating a space where audiences can interact with artists, engage in workshops, and experience the processes behind each creation.
Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation: The Driving Force
The biennale is organized by the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF), a non-profit trust dedicated to promoting art, culture, heritage, and education. Supported by the Government of Kerala, KBF ensures that the biennale remains artist-centric, providing a platform for experimentation while fostering community engagement and cultural preservation.
KBF’s mission extends beyond contemporary exhibitions. It focuses on:
- Cultural education through workshops, lectures, and public engagement.
- Restoration of heritage sites, integrating historic spaces into contemporary art practice.
- Revival of traditional art forms, linking past and present.
- Community engagement, connecting local residents with global artistic dialogues.
By embedding art into the social and historical fabric of Kochi, KBF ensures that the biennale is a transformative experience for both artists and audiences.
Themes and Inspirations
For the Time Being draws inspiration from geographical and temporal resonances, reflecting on shared memories, mirrored struggles, and emergent affinities. Grounded in empathy, active listening, and meaningful connections, the biennale encourages exploration of:
- The intersection of history and contemporary practice, highlighting Kochi’s role as a historic port city.
- Cross-cultural exchanges, reflecting Kerala’s centuries-long engagement with traders, migrants, and travelers.
- Friendship economies and collaborative networks among artists, emphasizing relational rather than transactional approaches.
- Site-specific experimentation, where the city itself becomes a canvas, with art responding to its architecture, public spaces, and cultural nuances.
The biennale fosters an environment where process is as significant as the final artwork, allowing experimentation, dialogue, and collective creativity to flourish.
Why You Should Attend
The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is more than a visual spectacle—it is an immersive experience of discovery. Visitors can:
- Witness pioneering art from over 60 projects and multiple international artists.
- Explore 22 diverse venues, ranging from historic buildings to contemporary spaces.
- Participate in workshops, talks, and performances, enriching understanding of contemporary art practices.
- Engage with communities and explore Kochi’s cultural landscape beyond the gallery walls.
Whether you are an art enthusiast, a student, a collector, or a casual visitor, the biennale offers something for everyone: a chance to reflect, connect, and be inspired.
Conclusion
The Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025–26 promises 110 days of artistic exploration, dialogue, and inspiration, establishing itself as a landmark event in the global contemporary art calendar. Curated by Nikhil Chopra, For the Time Being emphasizes collaboration, experimentation, and the relationships that give art its transformative power.
From immersive installations and performance art to participatory projects and educational programmes, the biennale invites audiences to engage with contemporary art in all its forms. By integrating Kochi’s historic and cultural richness with global artistic practices, KMB continues to be a vibrant space where creativity, friendship, and dialogue intersect.
For artists, it is a platform to innovate; for audiences, a journey of discovery; and for the city of Kochi, a reaffirmation of its status as India’s epicenter of contemporary art and cultural dialogue.
Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of creativity. Dec 12, 2025, to Mar 31, 2026—mark your calendars and immerse yourself in 110 days of art, dialogue, and inspiration at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale!
