The Biennale of Sydney today (16 May) announced Arab curator Hoor Al Qasimi as Artistic Director of its 25th iteration, to be held from 7 March to 8 June in 2026. Al Qasimi is the eighth woman appointed for the position.
Al Qasimi is a familiar name on the international biennale circuit. In 2009 she founded the Sharjah Art Foundation, and has been Director of Sharjah Biennial since 2002. She was appointed as President of the International Biennial Association (IBA) in 2017 and Artistic Director of the sixth Aichi Triennale, Japan in 2025 – the first person outside of Japan to be chosen for the role .
