Biennale Danza 2026: Bangarra Dance Theatre and Mamela Nyamza Win Top Prizes in Venice

The 20th International Festival of Contemporary Dance, part of the Venice Biennale, opened on July 17 with Emanuel Gat's 'Five Days in the Sun', inspired by Mahler's Fifth Symphony. Directed by Wayne McGregor, who has been confirmed for another term (2027-2028), the festival is themed around a fluid conception of time, inspired by quantum physics. Rather than a nostalgic celebration, the 20th edition explores how the past survives in the present and projects into the future, exemplified by the immersive film installation 'Life Lines' created from the Biennale's historical archive and shown in the Sala d'Armi E of the Arsenale. The festival runs until August 1 and features performances by Wen Hui & Eiko Otake, Adam Linder, Molissa Fenley, and WINNDance. Bangarra Dance Theatre received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, presenting 'Terrain', a journey through the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre landscape, reflecting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Mamela Nyamza received the Silver Lion for 'The Herd/Less', a work exploring social subordination and stereotypes. Other highlights include 'Láhppon / Lost' by Elle Sofe Sara and Hlín Hjálmarsdóttir, which revisits the 1852 Kautokeino revolt; 'Invisible' by Andrea Salustri, winner of the Biennale Danza 2026 call for a new Italian choreographic creation; and 'Hubris' by Maxine Doyle, performed by Biennale College dancers.