The Istanbul Biennial, one of the world’s most significant contemporary art events, is preparing to embark on a bold new chapter. From 20 September to 23 November 2025, the 18th edition of the Biennial, curated by Christine Tohmé and organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), will begin under the title “The Three-Legged Cat.” This ambitious exhibition will not unfold over the traditional two-month period alone but instead stretch across three years, from 2025 through 2027, with each “leg” offering a distinct rhythm of engagement with artists, audiences, and the city of Istanbul. The full program can be found via the IKSV Biennial website.
A Symbol in Motion
The imagery of the three-legged cat provides the conceptual anchor for this Biennial. A cat, long revered in Istanbul as a beloved urban companion, embodies wit, charm, independence, and survival. Despite domestication, it retains its wild essence and its ability to adapt when confronted with danger. A three-legged cat, in particular, carries the scars of struggle yet persists with resilience, balance, and a quiet grace.
Curator Christine Tohmé positions this feline metaphor as a guide for navigating today’s fractured world. As accelerated destruction, displacement, and crisis dominate daily realities, the Biennial proposes to “walk” with the cat – stumbling at times, but continuing to move forward. Its altered gait becomes a symbol of transformation, self-preservation, and futurity, reminding us that fragility and persistence can coexist.
The Three-Legged Structure
For the first time in its history, the Istanbul Biennial will unfold over three consecutive years:
The First Leg (2025): From 20 September to 23 November, more than 40 international and local artists will present works in venues across the city. Complementing the exhibitions will be performances, screenings, and talks, all centred on themes of resilience and imagining the future. This opening phase promises to be an expansive introduction, offering visitors multiple entry points into the curatorial vision.
The Second Leg (2026): Moving beyond exhibitions, the Biennial will transform into a platform for knowledge exchange. Plans include the creation of an academy and collaborations with local initiatives to design public programmes that link artistic practices to civic life.
The Third Leg (2027): The final year will serve as a moment of reflection and gathering. Exhibitions and workshops will revisit the projects and conversations of the previous years, weaving them together into a concluding exploration of what has been preserved and discovered.
By extending over three years, the 18th Istanbul Biennial challenges traditional event structures, slowing down the pace and making space for continuity, depth, and long-term engagement.
A City Rich with History and Stories
The Biennial has long been known not only for its cutting-edge artworks but also for its inventive use of Istanbul’s diverse venues. This year is no different. The press conference announcing “The Three-Legged Cat” was held at the historic Beyoğlu Sports Club, founded in 1877 and carrying deep cultural ties to the city’s Greek community. Once known as Ermis and later Peraclub, the club has been an emblem of Istanbul’s cosmopolitan past and now hosts a museum celebrating its sporting history. During the Biennial, it will become one of the sites for performances and public programmes, highlighting the Biennial’s tradition of activating the city’s layered spaces.
A Global Call and Local Resonance
Anticipation for this edition has already reached impressive levels. An open call to artists, held between October and December 2024, received nearly 1,500 submissions from 105 countries – a testament to the Biennial’s international standing and its ability to draw creative voices from around the globe. Selected artists will be announced in the spring of 2025, ensuring that the Biennial continues its legacy of discovery and cross-cultural dialogue.
Yet, while international in scope, the Biennial never loses sight of its local grounding. Istanbul itself – a city of cats, contradictions, and continuous transformation – remains at the heart of the event. By weaving together global artistic practices with local venues, histories, and communities, the Biennial once again positions the city as both a stage and a protagonist.
About the Curator
Christine Tohmé brings to Istanbul a wealth of curatorial and institutional experience. Based in Beirut, she is the founder of Ashkal Alwan, a non-profit cultural organisation supporting contemporary art and education. Her initiatives, including the influential Home Works Forum and the Home Workspace Programme, have shaped artistic discourse in the Middle East and beyond. Tohmé has curated internationally recognised exhibitions, including Sharjah Biennial 13: Tamawuj, and her contributions have been honoured with prestigious awards such as the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture and the CCS Bard Award for Curatorial Excellence. Her three-legged curatorial vision promises to leave a lasting mark on the Istanbul Biennial.
A Tradition of Connection
Since its founding in 1987, the Istanbul Biennial has hosted more than 1,200 artists and collectives, becoming the most significant international contemporary art platform in the region. Organised by İKSV and supported by Koç Holding as Biennial Sponsor since 2007, the event has introduced Istanbul audiences to groundbreaking art while also building bridges between Turkish and international art communities.
This edition continues that tradition while rethinking how an art biennial can operate in a world defined by uncertainty. Rather than offering quick snapshots, “The Three-Legged Cat” chooses to pause, stretch, stumble, and continue – much like its feline namesake. It is an invitation not only to witness art but also to reflect on our own rhythms of survival, play, and hope.
Looking Ahead
The 18th Istanbul Biennial: The Three-Legged Cat opens its first leg to the public from 20 September to 23 November 2025, free of charge.
With its feline spirit and its three-year arc, this Biennial is more than an exhibition. It is a living process, one that adapts, persists, and transforms alongside the city of Istanbul and the world at large. For audiences, it promises not only encounters with extraordinary art but also the opportunity to follow the winding, resilient path of the three-legged cat. Keep up via the IKSV Biennial website or their Instagram.
