Unspeakable Worlds
April 9–May 10, 2026
Wien 1030
Austria
From April 9 to May 10, 2026, Vienna will once again be dedicated to the Klima Biennale Wien. The second edition of this interdisciplinary festival at the intersection of art, climate, and society is guided by the theme Unspeakable Worlds, addressing the complexity of contemporary realities that often defy language. A special focus is on Vienna’s public space, with a concentration of projects at Karlsplatz—a key location in the city centre—which for one month becomes a stage for artistic interventions and events. In addition to the festival headquarters at KunstHausWien, more than fifty partner institutions contribute to a citywide programme. Initiated by the City of Vienna, the Biennale is organized by KunstHausWien. Museum Hundertwasser.
Festivalzentrale at KunstHausWien
KunstHausWien presents two exhibitions within the framework of the Biennale:
Seeds. Reclaiming Roots, Sowing Futures brings together fourteen international artists who explore seeds as bearers of knowledge, biodiversity, resistance, and regenerative futures. With Ackroyd & Harvey, Maria Thereza Alves, Alexandra Baumgartner, Tue Greenfort, Kapwani Kiwanga, Dominique Koch, Jumana Manna, Christian Kosmas Mayer, Marzia Migliora, Lucía Pizzani, Michaela Putz, Cecilia Vicuña, and Munem Wasif.
The Project Room Garage is activated by the Institute of Queer Ecology with the exhibition I Wish We Had More Time, which reflects on ecological fragility, ruptures in queer history and personal loss.
The museum itself is being redesigned by the scenographer duo JASCHA&FRANZ, who are creating a spatial narrative in collaboration with Austrian writer Andrea Grill.
(No) Funny Games or how we learned to start caring and love the dystopia—Art in Public Space
Under this title, works oscillating between idyll and dystopia are created in the urban environment. At Karlsplatz, Margot Pilz reactivates her project Kaorle am Karlsplatz. In 1982, the artist brought the Italian seaside resort of Caorle to Vienna, installing a sandy beach in the middle of the city for the first time. Contributions by River Claure, Dominik Eulberg & Marcin Nowicki, Future Leaks, Romuald Hazoumè, Folke Köbberling, Zheng Mahler, NEVERCREW Eva Seiler and Pia Sirén appear at various locations across Vienna. Some of the projects are realized in cooperation with KÖR Wien (Public Art Vienna), MuseumsQuartier Wien, museum in progress, and Calle Libre.
Projects and collaborations
In cooperation with partners from culture, science, and education, the Biennale develops projects addressing the climate crisis, urban development, and participation. In cooperation with the Vienna Business Agency, ten concepts for public space are implemented within the framework of Making Spaces.
This years’ Immediate Matters is with and curated by Echo Correspondence, eindorf, ENTRE, Kunstverein Kevin, Laurenz, new jörg, Pech, Schleuse, Size Matters and WAF. The project is coordinated by curator Anne Faucheret under the theme Speak We Must We Must Speak.
The university project Solutions & Strategies culminates in a focus week at the Badeschiff, where around eighty students present artworks, performances, and discursive formats.
Numerous Partners in Climate—Biofabrique Vienna, Brunnenpassage (together with Sinopale), DAS WEISSE HAUS, Foto Arsenal Wien, Kultur 1, Kunsthalle Exnergasse, Kunsthalle Wien, MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, SOHO Studios, Stadtkino Wien, VIENNA DESIGN WEEK, Volkstheater Wien, Weltmuseum Wien and WUK Performing Arts—take the festival throughout the city with their projects.
Zukunftshorizonte—Education Programme
Children and young people collaborate with artists and scientists on projects shaping the future of our planet. Partners include UNICEF Austria, Vienna schools, and DOCK – Children’s Office at the University of Vienna. A two-day Climate Summit on 13 and 14 April brings together experts from art, science, economy, and politics.
Klima Biennale Wien is a transdisciplinary festival that uses the power of art to foster societal transformation. Its first edition, in 2024, attracted more than 225,000 visitors.
Duration: April 9–May 10, 2026 / Director KunstHausWien: Gerlinde Riedl / Director Klima Biennale Wien: Sithara Pathirana / Curators: Sophie Haslinger, Stephan Kuss & Veronika Hackl, Hektor Peljak, Dorothea Trappel and contributing partners.
