IBA Regional Meeting Europe 2026 to explore Biennials as Networks of Solidarity
Together with Bienal Climática, we are delighted to announce the 2nd IBA Regional Meeting – Europe, which will take place in Avilés, Spain, from 14–16 September 2026, during the closing days of the biennial’s inaugural edition.
Building on the success of our first Regional Meeting in Prizren in 2025, this gathering reinforces our commitment to creating opportunities for biennial practitioners to meet in person, strengthen trust relationships and develop new forms of collaboration linked by shared regional contexts. Regional Meetings have become an important part of IBA’s mission to foster closer dialogue among members while responding to the specific questions, challenges and opportunities emerging within different parts of the world.
Under the theme Biennials as Networks of Solidarity, this meeting asks its participants how biennials can function not only as exhibition platforms but also as long-term infrastructures for cooperation. In a context shaped by climate change, democratic uncertainty and increasing geopolitical fragmentation, the program developed for this meeting explores how cultural institutions can cultivate relationships of trust that endure beyond the single exhibition. Rather than waiting for moments of crisis to activate collective responses, we ask how the conditions for solidarity can be intentionally built over time.
For more than a decade, we have worked to strengthen collaboration among our members through staff exchanges, peer mentoring, professional development, shared resources and knowledge exchange. Regional Meetings extend this work by creating spaces where conversations can develop into practical collaborations at a regional scale.
The program combines dedicated working sessions for participating biennials with visits to Bienal Climática exhibitions and projects, alongside a public dialogue exploring the role of biennials as networks of solidarity. Participants will also be invited to engage with the wider public program of Bienal Climática throughout their stay, reinforcing the connection between professional exchange and public engagement.
