Europe's Oldest Public Art Fair Sonsbeek Returns in 2026 with New Platform

The Sonsbeek exhibition, Europe's oldest public art fair, was founded in 1949 in Arnhem, Netherlands, to aid post-WWII urban renewal. Its first edition featured over 200 works by mostly Dutch sculptors and attracted 125,000 visitors. After 12 editions, the 13th in 2026 will establish a permanent cultural platform for public art. Curated by Amira Gad (Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen) and Christina Li (Kim Association, Singapore), the edition runs July 2 to October 11, 2026, under the theme 'Memory as Living Action'. About 20 artists from the Netherlands and abroad will create new works in sculpture, installation, performance, and video art. The full artist list will be announced in 2026. The exhibition includes a 100-day public program of performances, readings, screenings, and workshops. Sonsbeek has influenced international discourse on public art, with many works entering major collections or remaining in Arnhem's public space.