Venice Dance Biennale 2026: 'Time Does Not Exist' Explores Dance's Boundaries

The 20th edition of the Venice Dance Biennale, titled 'Time Does Not Exist', ran from July 17 to August 1, 2026, under the artistic direction of Australian choreographer Wayne McGregor. The theme, inspired by physicist Carlo Rovelli's theories questioning the fundamental nature of time, framed a program of over 140 artists and around 60 events, including several world premieres. Notable works included Andrea Salustri's 'Invisible', which used smoke, light, water, and sound as protagonists, and new creations by Malagasy choreographer Soa Ratsifandrihana and South African choreographer Mamela Nyamza, who presented 'The Herd/Less' and was awarded the Silver Lion. French choreographer Emanuel Gat presented 'Five Days in the Sun', set to Mahler's Fifth Symphony, created at Montpellier Danse 26. The Biennale College Danza 2026 featured two premieres for its sixteen young dancers: Molissa Fenley's 'On Tenderness', with live music by drummer Denardo Coleman and texts by Hérica Valladares, and Maxine Doyle's 'Hubris', a reflection on power with set design by Livi Vaughan and lighting by Yuka Hisamatsu. The program also included Bangarra Dance Theatre, an Australian company founded in 1989 in Sydney, which performed 'Terrain' (2012) by Frances Rings, a tribute to Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre. The Biennale aimed to question the very nature of dance, blending performance, visual arts, installation, philosophy, science, and technology.