First Bienal de Yucatán to launch in Mérida in 2026 with Abraham Cruzvillegas as artistic director

Mérida, capital of Mexico's Yucatán state, will host the inaugural Bienal de Yucatán from 26 November 2026 to 28 February 2027. French-born patron Catherine Petitgas, who founded Proyecto Y in 2023 to support local artists, conceived the biennial to strengthen regional contemporary art visibility. Mexican artist Abraham Cruzvillegas serves as artistic director, with the first edition exploring language through new commissions, loans, and archival presentations. The festival will occupy Mérida's historic center, using Casa de la Cultura del Mayab as a central hub. This biennial addresses a gap left by the 2021 closure of Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Ateneo de Yucatán and the halt of a state-funded visual arts biennial. Petitgas brings experience from São Paulo Bienal's International Advisory Board and Liverpool Biennial trusteeship. Mérida's art scene has grown organically with over 40 galleries and institutions like Universidad de las Artes de Yucatán (UNAY). Artists including Gerda Gruber, Jorge Pardo, Pedro Reyes, Marco A. Castillo, and Randy Shull maintain presence in the city. The January 2026 Week of Art Yucatán (Way) festival previewed this momentum across 20+ venues. Future editions are scheduled for 2028 and 2030.