Biennale Gherdëina 10: (Future) Paradise Gardens

Val Gardena, Dolomites. Photo: Tiberio Sorvillo. Courtesy Biennale Gherdëina.

31 May – 13 September 2026
Curator: Samuel Leuenberger
www.biennalegherdeina.org

The 10th edition of Biennale Gherdëina will unfold across Ortisei and other locations in Val Gardena, in the Dolomites, Italy, from May 31 to September 13, 2026, with a public opening on May 30. Curated by Samuel Leuenberger, Biennale Gherdëina 10: (Future) Paradise Gardens marks a landmark moment in the Biennale’s history, celebrating its tenth iteration.

Bringing together artists from around the world, this edition invites audiences into terrains both tender and turbulent, where gardens serve as symbols of survival, love, and the possibility of a just future. As curator Samuel Leuenberger notes:

“The Dolomites provide an inspiring backdrop, rich in natural beauty, artisanal traditions, and timeless mountain narratives—an ideal setting to explore the concept of (Future) Paradise Gardens. These gardens, existing at the intersection of raw natural grandeur and human cultivation, are envisioned not only as sanctuaries for flora and fauna but also as spaces reflecting our collective aspirations for a future grounded in justice and equality. Here, gardens can nourish both body and spirit, serving as places of refuge, possibility, and renewal for all.”

The exhibition is structured into distinct thematic chapters, each reflecting on a different facet of the human-made construct of the garden:

• Commoning emphasizing the sharing of food, caretaking, and preservation of all forms of life.

• Divine Love and Growth presenting the garden as a site of spiritual flourishing and transcendence.

• The Violent Garden decolonizing the garden and challenging anthropocentric views to create space for animals and nature.

• Queer Ecology interrogating nature’s inherent queerness and exploring diversity and fluidity in ecological systems.

• Botanical vs. Poetic Gardens contrasting scientific classification of plant specimens with gardens as spaces of reflection, beauty, and imagination.

A number of artists have already been confirmed among which are: Chanelle Adams (US), Andrius Arutiunian (Armenia/Lithuania), Jacopo Belloni (Italy), Alice Bucknell (UK/US), Leonardo Bürgi (Mexico/Switzerland), Giulia Cenci (Italy), Dorota Gaweda (Poland) & Eglė Kulbokaitė (Lithuania), Sandra Knecht (Switzerland), Judith Neunhäuserer (Italy), Walter Niedermayr (Italy), Masatoshi Noguchi (Japan/Italy), Gabriela Oberkofler (Italy), Lydia Ourahmane (Algeria), Gregor Prugger & Leonora Prugger (Italy), Ana Prvacki (Serbia), Augustas Serapinas (Lithuania), Bas Smets (Belgium) & Eliane Le Roux (France), Bosco Sodi (Mexico), Constantin Thun, Kelly Tissot (France), Alvaro Urbano (Spain), Yuyan Wang (China), Evelyn Taocheng Wang (China), Pedro Wirz (Brazil/Switzerland) & Michael Marder (Canada/Portugal).

A highlight of this edition is Dormancy by Jacopo Belloni, one of the recipients of the 14th edition of the Italian Council (2025). After being presented in Geneva and further developed in Marseille and Porto, the project will be realized in Val Gardena for Biennale Gherdëina 10 before entering the permanent collection of GAMeC – Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo.

Biennale Gherdëina 10 initiates a major collaboration with Kaunas Biennial, establishing a two-year exchange program that enables artists to participate across both platforms with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Lithuanian Culture Institute.

The Biennale will also renew its collaboration with Museion – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Bolzano/Bozen, which is currently hosting the first Italian solo exhibition of Evelyn Taocheng Wang, curated by Leonie Radine, furthering dialogue between Bolzano and Val Gardena.

To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Biennale Gherdëina will publish a special commemorative book tracing its journey over the past two decades, reflecting on its role as a catalyst for artistic innovation and cultural dialogue in South Tyrol and beyond.

Founded in 2008 by Doris Ghetta, Biennale Gherdëina is organized by Zënza Sëida, a non-profit cultural association chaired by Eduard Demetz. Rooted in the belief that contemporary art is a vital resource for social well-being, the Biennale bridges tradition and innovation in the Dolomites, fostering critical reflection, community engagement, and international dialogue.

The 10th edition will be on view from May 31 to September 13, 2026, with the public opening on May 30 (press preview: May 29).

For more information, visit www.biennalegherdeina.org.