For curators Pirkko Siitari and Taru Tappola, the summer of 2020 was supposed to mark a huge milestone with the debut of Finland’s Helsinki Biennial. Now, those plans, like so many others in the art world and beyond, have been completely recast. They chose to push the inaugural biennial, titled “The Same Sea,” back by exactly one year. For the jam-packed art calendar, such changes can have a big domino effect.
Many of the world’s most important visual art events take place every two or three years, so shifting an entire calendar cycle means jostling with other events already scheduled. As we explore in a new feature on these challenges, biennale organizers who are shuffling dates must at the same time contend with novel uncertainties regarding travel, shipping, and large crowds.
Some events are already putting a stake in the ground. Below, find a guide to the art shows that have new dates based on the current health conditions; we’ll continue to update as more information is released.
June–December 2020
Made in LA is still slated to open in Summer 2020. Courtesy of the Hammer Museum.
?? ? Riga Biennial: August 20 – 13 September, 2020 and online May 21–October 2, 2020
?? NIRIN Biennale of Sydney, Australia: Reopening at select venues June 2020
?? Yokohoma Triennale, Japan: July 17–November 11
?? Manifesta 13, Marseilles: August 28–November 28, 2020
?? Made in LA: 2020, California, September 2020
?? EVA International, Limerick: September 4–November 15
?? Bangkok Art Biennale: October 29–January 31, 2021
?? Taipei Biennial, Taiwan: November 24–February 28, 2021
?? Kochi Muziris Biennale, India: December 12–April 10
2021
Ahmet Öğüt, United (2016), two channel HD animation. Commissioned by 11th Gwangju Biennale Foundation. Produced in collaboration with JM Animation Co. Supported by Mondriaan Foundation and Saha Association. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Doyun Kim
?? Gwangju Biennale: February 26–May 9, 2021
?? Sharjah Biennial 15 (SB15): March 2021
?? Liverpool Biennial: Postponed to March 20–June 6, 2021
?? Socle du Monde: Spring 2021
?? sonsbeek20→24: Spring 2021
?? Toronto Biennial of Art, Canada: September 25 – December 5, 2021
?? Venice Architecture Biennale: May 22 –November 21, 2021
?? Casablanca International Biennale: May 24–August 1, 2021
?? Helsinki Biennial: June 12–September 26, 2021
?? London Design Biennial: June 2021
?? Folkestone Triennial: September 2021
?? Bienal de São Paolo, Brazil: September 4–December 5
?? Prospect.5, New Orleans: October 23, 2021–January 23, 2022
?? 13th Kaunas Biennial: November 5, 2021–January 31, 2022
?? 3rd Coventry Biennial: Autumn 2021
?? Jakarta Biennale: Postponed to second half of 2021, date to be announced
?? New Museum Triennial: Originally scheduled for 2021, date to be announced
2022
Sun & Sea, Lithuania’s contribution to the 2019 Venice Biennale. Photo: Neon Realism.
?? Sharjah Art Biennial, UAE: March 2022
?? Venice Biennale, Italy: April 23–November 27, 2022
?? Bucharest Biennial, Romania: May 19–July 17, 2022
?? documenta 15: June 18–September 25, 2022
?? FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art, Ohio: July 17–October 2, 2022
?? Lyon Contemporary Art Biennial: September 2022