bienal

A bienal, or biennale, is an event or exhibition staged every two years, most commonly in the arts and cultural sectors. The format originated in Italy and is widely used internationally to describe large-scale, international showcases that rotate across venues in a host city. While art biennales are the most familiar, the term is also used for architecture, film, design, and other disciplines.

One of the oldest and best-known is the Venice Biennale, established in 1895 by the city of Venice. It presents a central exhibition and a network of national pavilions in the Giardini and in the city, with prizes such as the Golden Lion and Silver Lion. Another landmark is the São Paulo Art Biennial, founded in 1951, which has played a central role in the development of international contemporary art in Latin America. Across the globe, hundreds of biennales exist, including architecture and film-focused events, satellite fairs, and city-specific triennales and biennales.

Biennales typically involve curatorial programs selected by artistic directors, with national or thematic pavilions representing participating countries. They often aim to present new work, foster international exchange, and influence contemporary discourse. However, critics note that biennales can reflect market dynamics, geopolitical biases, and selective representation, and can be resource-intensive. The format continues to evolve, with some events adopting biennale-like schedules in a broader, ongoing cycle or expanding to annual or multi-year iterations in some contexts.