Photo: Daniel Boud.
Low Kee Hong Appointed Artistic Director of the 26th Biennale of Sydney
26th Biennale of Sydney
March 11 – June 12, 2028 (opening March 11, 2028)
The Biennale of Sydney has announced the appointment of Low Kee Hong as the Artistic Director of its 26th edition, which will open to the public on March 11, 2028, with professional preview days taking place from March 8–10.
One of the world’s longest-running biennials of contemporary art and a long-standing member of the International Biennial Association (IBA), the Biennale of Sydney has played a defining role in shaping artistic exchange across Australia, the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond since its inception in 1973. Across multiple venues throughout Sydney, the Biennale has consistently brought together international and local artistic practices while fostering dialogue across disciplines, cultures, and communities.
The appointment of Low Kee Hong signals a new chapter for the Biennale, bringing to its artistic direction one of the leading voices in contemporary multidisciplinary curation. His vision for the 2028 edition extends beyond visual art alone, embracing music, architecture, performance, literature, philosophy, food, fashion, and nature, while maintaining contemporary art at the centre of the Biennale’s curatorial framework.
Currently Creative Director of Factory International in Manchester, Low oversees the organisation’s curatorial program at Aviva Studios, one of the United Kingdom’s most significant new cultural institutions. He also leads the artistic direction of the Manchester International Festival, internationally recognised for commissioning ambitious new works that bring together artists across disciplines.
His previous roles include serving as the Founding Director and General Manager of the Singapore Biennale, Artistic Director of the Singapore Arts Festival, Associate Artistic Director of TheatreWorks Singapore, and Head of Theatre and Performing Arts at Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District. Throughout his career, Low has developed projects that challenge conventional exhibition formats while creating new forms of encounter between artists, audiences, and cities.
Reflecting on his appointment, Low Kee Hong said:
“I am thrilled to be joining the Biennale of Sydney as Artistic Director. Sydney is a city of extraordinary energy, creativity and diversity, and the Biennale offers a unique platform to bring artists and audiences together in ways that are both meaningful and unexpected. I believe contemporary art has the power to create encounters that stay with us, to inspire wonder, foster connection and open new possibilities for how we see ourselves and one another. My hope is to create an edition that feels generous, proposing new ways of assembly and rebuilding communities and celebrating our capacity for joy in these challenging times. The 2028 Biennale will embrace participation and discovery, inviting people from all walks of life to share in the experience. I look forward to spending time with artists, communities and cultural leaders across Australia and the wider region, building relationships that will help shape an edition grounded in inspiration, imagination and collective celebration.”
Commenting on the appointment, Barbara Moore, Chief Executive Officer of the Biennale of Sydney, stated:
“We are thrilled to welcome Low Kee Hong as the Artistic Director of the 26th Biennale of Sydney (2028). At a time when people are seeking authentic connection, hope and shared experiences, Kee Hong’s vision offers warmth and kindness, embracing a shared sense of humanity through difference and change. The Biennale of Sydney is one of the leading contemporary art events in the world, and our next edition in 2028, under the Artistic Direction of Kee Hong, will bring people together with a spirit of openness, creativity and possibility, embracing the power of contemporary art and creative expression to inspire people, bring us joy, and create lasting, meaningful memories.”
The 26th Biennale of Sydney will open to the public on March 11, 2028, continuing the Biennale’s long-standing commitment to presenting ambitious contemporary artistic practice while creating new opportunities for public engagement across Sydney and the wider region.
