Manifesta 16 Unveils Its Program: 9 Polish Artists Featured at One of the World’s Leading Art Events
Manifesta 16 Ruhr has announced the artists taking part in this year’s edition – and the Polish presence is especially strong. Nine artists from Poland have been invited by an international curatorial team that includes Anda Rottenberg and Krzysztof Kościuczuk. The exhibition will run from 21 June to 4 October 2026, and will take place across 12 abandoned churches in Germany’s Ruhr region. Under the theme “This is not a church” the organizers ask how former places of worship might once again become spaces for gathering and everyday social life in a world shaped by crises, disinformation, and division.
The Strongest Polish Representation at Manifesta in Years
The lineup includes Mirosław Bałka, Zuza Golińska, Nicolas Grospierre, Jarosław Kozłowski, Katarzyna Kozyra, Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, Anka Sasnal, Wilhelm Sasnal, and Mikołaj Sobczak. Together they represent a wide range of generations and artistic approaches – from internationally established figures to younger voices. Some will present existing works, while others are creating new pieces specifically for the church spaces.
Held every two years in a different European city, Manifesta is one of the most important contemporary art biennials. What sets it apart is its strong connection to place: rather than simply presenting artworks, each edition grows out of the local context – its history, social tensions, and future challenges. The goal is not only to stage exhibitions, but also to spark meaningful social change through collaboration with local communities.
This year’s artistic program is shaped by an international, cross-generational curatorial team.
“For me, this edition of Manifesta is, in a way, the closing of a circle that began in May 1991 with the exhibition Unknown Europe, which I organized in Kraków. It was the first exhibition in postwar history to bring together young artists from all European countries on equal terms, and after several years of discussion it became a model for Manifesta, initially established as a foundation in Amsterdam and later as an exhibition held in Rotterdam in 1996. Now, after 30 years, I have been invited to co-create the 16th edition together with two colleagues with whom we founded the foundation: René Block and Henry Meyrick Hughes. It is a pleasant reunion, but it also prompts reflection on the past years. That is why, together with Krzysztof Kościuczuk, we decided to confront young artists with today’s classics who were overlooked in previous editions of Manifesta”, says Anda Rottenberg from the curatorial team.
“The strong presence of Polish artists and curators at Manifesta shows that Polish art is now an important part of the international conversation about what is happening to Europe – its memory, society, and public space. I am glad that Polish voices are being heard within Manifesta – an event that for years has demonstrated that art can be a real tool for social change”, says Olga Wysocka, Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, which supports the participation of Polish artists in the biennale.
Art in Abandoned Churches
This year’s edition will take place across four cities in the Ruhr region: Bochum, Essen, Duisburg, and Gelsenkirchen. The exhibitions will be staged in twelve former church buildings that are no longer in use, transforming them into spaces for artistic projects and community engagement.
These locations are no coincidence. Churches built after World War II once played a central role in rebuilding social life. Today, as their role has diminished, many stand empty.
With the subversive theme “This is not a church” artists and organizers aim to explore the untapped potential of these spaces – and to ask what we can carry forward from the past when imagining a better future. The biennale invites visitors to see these buildings not just as historical sites, but as places that could take on new social roles. At its core, the project asks how we can rebuild connections and create shared spaces in a time marked by fragmentation and crisis.
Key Themes: Migration, Memory, and Society
The program has been developed through field research, local consultations, and collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, including so-called Creative Mediators – professionals working at the intersection of art, architecture, migration studies, and social practice.
Key themes include migration, disinformation, polarization, collective memory, and urban life. The Ruhr region itself plays an important role here: shaped not only by industry, but also by decades of migration and cultural diversity.
As organizers point out, the story of the Ruhr has often focused on industry and workers’ solidarity, while overlooking migrant perspectives. This year’s edition aims to broaden that narrative.
Over 100 Participants from 33 Countries
Manifesta 16 Ruhr will feature more than 100 participants from 33 countries, including over 50 new works created specifically for this edition. The largest groups of participants come from Germany (25%), Turkey (21%), and Poland (9%) – a reflection of both the biennale’s European scope and the region’s social history.
The full list of artists can be found here.
Free and Open to All
The entire event will be free and open to the public. Alongside the exhibitions, the program will include a wide range of educational and community-based projects developed in collaboration with local residents and organizations.
Media contact:
Klaudia Gniady
Phone: +48 609 092 949
e-mail: [email protected]
The Adam Mickiewicz Institute (IAM) brings Polish culture to people around the world. Being a state institution, it creates lasting interest in Polish culture and art through strengthening the presence of Polish artists on the global stage. It initiates innovative projects, supports international cooperation and cultural exchanges. It promotes the work of both established and promising artists, showing the diversity and richness of our culture. The Adam Mickiewicz Institute is also responsible for the Culture.pl website, which is a comprehensive source of knowledge about Polish culture. More information: iam.pl.
