Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) with the support of Koç Holding, the Biennial Sponsor from 2007 to 2036, the 19th Istanbul Biennial will take place from 18 September to 14 November 2027. Curated by artist and curator LIU Ding and art historian and curator Carol Yinghua LU, the biennial will have Artİstanbul Feshane as its main venue.

Artİstanbul Feshane

An example of early Ottoman industrialisation, Feshane-i Âmire was an important site in the transition from traditional production to factory-based manufacturing. Established in Kadırga in 1827 and relocated to its present site in Eyüp in 1833, Feshane initially produced a range of textile goods, including the fez worn as part of military uniforms. Having undergone various phases of repair and transformation following the fires of 1866 and 1949, the building remains an important witness to Istanbul’s industrial past.

Following the restoration works carried out by İBB Miras (Heritage Department of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality), the building reopened in 2023 as Artİstanbul Feshane. Today, it serves as a public cultural venue, hosting exhibitions and a range of cultural events, alongside a library. Artİstanbul Feshane will serve as the main venue of the 19th Istanbul Biennial, open to new encounters between artists, visitors and the city.

Open call

As part of their ongoing research for the 19th Istanbul Biennial, the curators invite artists working across all disciplines to submit project proposals focusing on the impact of war through an open call. Applications for the open call, which aims to create a space for collective reflection on war and peace, can be submitted online from 19 October to 22 November 2026.

Further details about the open call, the curators’ invitation text and application requirements are available on the dedicated page.