The 18th Istanbul Biennial, organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), will conclude after its first leg following curator Christine Tohmé’s decision to step down due to personal circumstances.

The first leg of the 18th Istanbul Biennial was held from 20 September to 23 November 2025 across eight venues and welcomed over 600,000 visitors. The biennial had initially been envisioned by curator Christine Tohmé as a three-legged structure to unfold in three years, including an academic programme in 2026 and a second exhibition in 2027. In line with her current decision, the programme will not continue as originally planned, and the 18th Istanbul Biennial will come to a close after its first leg.

Initial work for the 19th Istanbul Biennial, scheduled for 2027 will begin in the coming days. Following the meetings of the advisory board—comprising Ahu Antmen, Lydia Gatundu Galavu, Gözde İlkin, Renan Laru-an, and Sally Tallant—the curator for the 19th edition will be announced in 2026.