Kochi Biennale draws to close with collaboration-led legacy and strong public engagement
Kochi / March 30, 2026
Kochi, March 30: The sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, titled For the Time Being, will be concluding on March 31, 2026, 4 pm, after a 110-day run that redefined collaborative contemporary art in India. Curated by multidisciplinary artist Nikhil Chopra along with HH Art Spaces, the exhibition opened on December 12, 2025 and unfolded across 29 venues spanning Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Willingdon Island and Ernakulam, with Aspinwall House serving as the central hub.
Featuring 66 artist projects from more than 25 countries, the edition placed emphasis on “friendship economies,” encouraging dialogue, shared practices and evolving artistic processes. Daily curated cultural programmes, performances and workshops held across venues, including the Pavilion at Bastion Bungalow, added significant vibrancy to the Biennale’s programming. These were complemented by parallel initiatives such as the Students’ Biennale, Invitations, Collaterals and Special Projects.
The ABC Art Room initiative at the Biennale saw wide-ranging participation and engagement across age groups and formats. A total of 25 schools and 10 colleges took part in workshops, directly engaging around 3,800 students, while consistent daily footfall brought in dozens more children each week. Across 149 workshops held in the two Art Rooms, about 6,000 participants were directly involved, complemented by 18 outreach workshops reaching another 600 participants. Performances and film screenings attracted around 3,500 viewers. In addition, an estimated 10,000 children actively engaged with the Art Rooms.
Only six of the more than 20 venues were ticketed, reinforcing the inclusive character that has earned the event its reputation as both the “People’s Biennale” and the “Artists’ Biennale”. Despite operating on a budget far smaller than many international counterparts, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale has grown into India’s largest contemporary art festival, attracting approximately 6.6 lakh attendees during this edition.
The final week has featured a series of closing highlights, including the “Say Yes To Love” gathering at Aspinwall House, performance work titled “STILL” by Anja Ibsch, and collaborative concerts such as Parimal Shais x The Imbachi at the Bastion Bungalow Pavilion. The official closing programmes are scheduled for March 31, bringing together artists, curators and audiences for a concluding reflection.
The distributed model, spanning neighbourhoods and community spaces, transformed the city into an interconnected cultural landscape while fostering meaningful exchanges between artists and audiences.
Dr Venu. V, chairperson of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, said the edition reaffirmed the evolving role of the Biennale in shaping cultural dialogue. “This edition demonstrated that contemporary art can thrive through collaboration and community participation. The friendships, conversations and creative processes that emerged over the past 110 days will continue to resonate beyond the closing date. Kochi once again proved that a people-centric model can create a globally significant cultural platform,” he said.
With its emphasis on accessibility, collaboration and experimentation, For the Time Being has strengthened the Biennale’s position as a dynamic cultural ecosystem that extends well beyond a traditional exhibition.
Dr. Venu V, Chairperson of the KBF; Nikhil Chopra, Curator of the sixth edition; and Thomas Varghese, CEO of KBF, will participate at the closing day function at Durbar Hall Ground, at 7 pm. The closing ceremony will be followed by a live concert by Parvaaz at 7:30 PM. Entry is free for the public.
ENDS
