(Future) Paradise Gardens
May 31–September 13, 2026
Biennale Gherdëina 10—(Future) Paradise Gardens curated by Samuel Leuenberger—will take place in Ortisei and other locations in Val Gardena, in the Dolomites, Italy, from May 31 to September 13, 2026.
This forthcoming edition of Biennale Gherdëina represents a landmark moment in the event’s history, as it proudly marks its tenth iteration.
Biennale Gherdëina 10: (Future) Paradise Gardens invites us into terrains both tender and turbulent—where gardens become symbols of survival, love, and the possibility of a just future.
Samuel Leuenberger says, “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 chapters, each examining a different facet of the human-made construct we call the garden. Symbolically, metaphorically, and emotionally, the themes center around notions of “Commoning”—where growing and sharing food, alongside caretaking and preserving traces of all life, are given priority. Another chapter, titled “Divine Love and Growth,” invites contemplation of the garden as a symbol of spiritual flourishing and transcendence. The exhibition further delves into the concept of the “Violent Garden,” addressing the urgent need to decolonize the garden—challenging anthropocentric views and creating space for animals and nature to move freely and reclaim agency. A chapter on “Queer Ecology” also interrogates why nature is often perceived as inherently queer, expanding the conversation on diversity and fluidity within ecological systems. Additionally, the project explores the “Botanical”—the ordering and classification of plant specimens—versus “Gardens as Spaces for Reflection and Poetry,” where gardens transform into sites of introspection, beauty, and creative imagination”.
Participating artists include:
Chanelle Adams (1992, US), Andrius Arutiunian (1991, Armenia/Lithuania), Jacopo Belloni (1992, Italy), Alice Bucknell (1993, UK/US), Leonardo Bürgi (1994, Mexico/Switzerland), Giulia Cenci (1988, Italy), Dorota Gaweda (1986, Poland) & Eglė Kulbokaitė (1987, Lithuania), Sandra Knecht (1968, Switzerland), Judith Neunhäuserer (1990, Italy), Walter Niedermayr (1952, Italy), Masatoshi Noguchi (1988, Japan/Italy), Gabriela Oberkofler (1975, Italy), Lydia Ourahmane (1992, Algeria), Gregor Prugger (1954, Italy) & Leonora Prugger (1995, Italy), Ana Prvacki (1976, Serbia), Augustas Serapinas (1990 Lithuania), Bas Smets (1975, Belgium) & Eliane Le Roux (1983, France), Bosco Sodi (1970, Mexico), Constantin Thun, Kelly Tissot (1995, France), Alvaro Urbano (1983, Spain), Yuyan Wang (1989, China), Evelyn Taocheng Wang (1981, China), Pedro Wirz (1981, Brazil/Switzerland) & Michael Marder (1980, Canada/Portugal).
A highlight for this edition also includes the project Dormancy by Jacopo Belloni, which has been announced as one of the recipients of the 14th edition of the Italian Council (2025), the programme to promote Italian contemporary art in the world by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture. A first part of the project is exhibited at Halle Nord in Geneva in the exhibition Jardins Défiants (Defiant Gardens) curated by Elise Lammer, in collaboration with CAC Centre d'Art Contemporain Genève, from September 10 to October 25, 2025; the project will then travel and further develop in Italy for the tenth edition of Biennale Gherdëina in Val Gardena. Other related activities involve a talk at Triangle-Astérides in Marseille, where Jacopo Belloni will spend a few months of residency in 2025, and a performance at Galeria Municipal do Porto in Portugal, under the artistic direction of João Laia. Dormancy will then enter the permanent collection of GAMeC - Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo (Italy).
Meanwhile, a major new collaboration between the Kaunas Biennial and Biennale Gherdëina can also be announced. Both have entered into a two-year collaborative partnership, reinforcing their shared commitment to artistic and cultural exchange. For the 15th edition of the Kaunas Biennial, Lorenzo Giusti has selected three Italian artists who participated in the 9th edition of Biennale Gherdëina, which was curated by him: Atelier dell’Errore, Ruth Beraha, and Arnold Holzknecht. Their works are presented in Kaunas as part of a satellite exhibition under the artistic direction of Neringa Kulik, and are currently on view until 9 November 2025 in Lithuania. In turn, the curator of Biennale Gherdëina 10, Samuel Leuenberger, following a research visit to Vilnius and Kaunas in January 2025, has selected three Lithuanian artists who will participate in Biennale Gherdëina 10, opening in May 2026: Andrius Arutiunian, Eglė Kulbokaitė, and Augustas Serapinas. This exchange program between the two biennials is made possible through the reciprocal and mutual support of the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Lithuanian Culture Institute.
Biennale Gherdëina will renew its collaboration with Museion – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Bolzano/Bozen. Museion is hosting the first solo exhibition in Italy of Chinese artist Evelyn Taocheng Wang (b. 1981, Chengdu; based in Rotterdam), curated by Leonie Radine. This project will further develop the biennale’s dialogue between Bolzano and Val Gardena.
To mark the milestone 10th edition of Biennale Gherdëina, a special anniversary publication will also be released, tracing its remarkable journey over the past two decades and celebrating its vibrant role as a catalyst for artistic innovation and cultural dialogue in the region.
The opening of the biennial will take place across a range of venues in Val Gardena on Saturday, May 30, 2026 (press preview: Friday, May 29, 2026, international press tour to coincide from Thursday, May 28, 2026).
Media enquiries: nj@nicolajeffs.com
Samuel Leuenberger has contributed widely to international exhibitions and programs including at Globus|Fondation Beyeler, Basel (2022-2025), Parcours, Art Basel (2016-2023), Centro Parraga, Murcia (2022), Misk Art Institute, Riyadh (2022), Centre Pasquart (2018), Bienne, Salon Suisse–Pro Helvetia, Venice (2017); Les Urbaines, Lausanne (2015); and 14 Rooms, Basel (2014). Previous roles include at Kunsthalle Zurich, Christie’s Auctioneers in Zurich and Stephen Friedman Gallery in London. He was a committee member of Kunstkredit Basel (the nation's oldest City Arts Council) from 2015-2020. He is currently director of SALTS, a non-profit exhibition space in Birsfelden and Bennwil, Switzerland, and a mentor at Institute Kunst Gender Nature (HGK) in Basel. Leuenberger is currently working on a solo exhibition with US/Canadian artist Chloe Wise for Kulturstiftung H. Geiger in Basel, due to open in June 2026 and has recently been appointed new curator for Plataforma’s 2026-2027 exhibition cycle, a new exhibition and residency program that engages in an in-depth dialogue between artists from the greater region of Guadalajara, Mexico, and international artists.
Biennale Gherdëina is an international contemporary art festival in the heart of the Dolomites, Italy. Founded in 2008 by its current director Doris Ghetta, since 2019 the Biennale has been organized by Zënza Sëida, a non-profit cultural association chaired by President Eduard Demetz dedicated to promoting culture as a vital resource for social well-being. Zënza Sëida was founded on the belief that contemporary art is a driving force for growth, reflection, and social transformation. Its mission is to disseminate contemporary culture and make it accessible to everyone—from art enthusiasts to local citizens—building a bridge between tradition and innovation in the heart of South Tyrol. The association is committed to the promotion, support, and production of contemporary art, viewing it as a universal language capable of stimulating critical thinking, expanding perspectives, and fostering new connections between people and the landscape.
