Anozero – Bienal de Coimbra Unveils 2026 Edition Focused on Reciprocity and Care
The 2026 edition of Anozero – Bienal de Coimbra, titled 'To hold, to give, to receive,' has been announced with Hans Ibelings and John Zeppetelli serving as curators, assisted by Daniel Madeira. Scheduled from April 11 to July 5, 2026, the biennial will take place in Coimbra, Portugal, with the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova as its central venue, extending to additional sites such as Círculo Sede, Círculo Sereia, Sala da Cidade, Edifício Chiado – Museu da Cidade de Coimbra, Convento São Francisco, Jardim Botânico, and MUSEU. The curatorial concept is rooted in themes of reciprocity, care, and transformation, drawing from the Proto-Indo-European root 'ghabh,' which relates to habitat, and influenced by Russian philosopher Peter Kropotkin's ideas on mutual aid. This framework emphasizes collaborative and exchange-based practices, challenging hierarchical structures. The program will feature a diverse array of artists, filmmakers, and research-based practitioners, including Taysir Batniji, Forensic Architecture, and Shilpa Gupta, among others listed, who critically engage with political, social, and spatial issues. The biennial aims to explore how artistic practices can reshape contemporary realities through its thematic focus.
Key facts
- The 2026 Anozero – Bienal de Coimbra is titled 'To hold, to give, to receive.'
- Curators are Hans Ibelings and John Zeppetelli, with Daniel Madeira as assistant curator.
- It will run from April 11 to July 5, 2026.
- The main venue is the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova in Coimbra, Portugal.
- Additional locations include Círculo Sede, Círculo Sereia, and Jardim Botânico.
- The curatorial theme is based on reciprocity, care, and transformation, inspired by the root 'ghabh.'
- Influenced by Peter Kropotkin's concept of mutual aid, it promotes collaboration over hierarchy.
- Featured artists include Taysir Batniji, Forensic Architecture, and Shilpa Gupta.
Entities
Artists
- Chantal Akerman
- Christian Andersson
- Jonathas de Andrade
- Vasco Araújo
- arquivo mangue
- Lina Bo Bardi
- Taysir Batniji
- Frédéric Bruly Bouabré
- Arno Brandlhuber e/and Constanze Haas
- Inês Brites
- Adam Broomberg e/and Rafael Gonzalez
- Alberto Carneiro
- Centrala
- Rui Chafes e/and Candura
- Julian Charrière
- Sandro Chia
- Colectivo SEM-FIM
- Luisa Cunha
- Eva Davidova
- Thomas Demand
- Forensic Architecture
- Arturo Franco
- Nan Goldin
- Shilpa Gupta
- Inside Outside
- Kosmos
- Juha Lilja
- Mário Macilau
- Fina Miralles
- Adriana Molder
- Office of Adrian Phiffer
- Pezo von Ellrichshausen
- João Salema
- Taryn Simon
- Charles Stankievech
- Mungo Thomson
- Maria Trabulo
- Pedro Vaz
- Carlos Ferrand Zavala
- Anarchism and Planning
- Three rooms
- Xenia — aNC
- Atelier Local
- Ateliermob
- Colectivo Warehouse
- Fala, fr-ia, JQTS
- Nuno Valentim
- Paula Santos
- Pedra Líquida
- Arno Brandlhuber
- Constanze Haas
- Adam Broomberg
- Rafael Gonzalez
- Rui Chafes
- Candura
- Fala
- fr-ia
- JQTS
- Oliver Beer
- Adrian Phiffer
- Jorge das Neves
Institutions
- Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova
- Círculo Sede
- Círculo Sereia
- Sala da Cidade
- Edifício Chiado – Museu da Cidade de Coimbra
- Convento São Francisco
- Jardim Botânico
- MUSEU
- Círculo de Artes Plásticas de Coimbra
- University of Coimbra
- Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Coimbra
- Anozero – Bienal de Coimbra
- Anozero—Bienal de Coimbra
- arquivo mangue
- Centrala
- Colectivo SEM-FIM
- Forensic Architecture
- Inside Outside
- Kosmos
- Office of Adrian Phiffer
- Pezo von Ellrichshausen
- Anarchism and Planning
- Three rooms
- Xenia — aNC
- Atelier Local
- Ateliermob
- Colectivo Warehouse
- Fala
- fr-ia
- JQTS
- Nuno Valentim
- Paula Santos
- Pedra Líquida
- Biennial Foundation
- Anozero-Bienal de Coimbra
Locations
- Coimbra
- Portugal