Biennale Gherdëina 10: (Future) Paradise Gardens
Concept and artists for the 2026 biennial, curated by Samuel Leuenberger.
Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy, 2022. Ph. Tiberio Sorvillo
Biennale Gherdëina 10 - (Future) Paradise Gardens curated by Samuel Leuenberger - will take place in Ortisei and other locations in Val Gardena, in the Dolomites, Italy, from May 31 to September 13, 2026. The opening will take place across a range of venues in Val Gardena on Saturday, May 30, 2026 (press preview: Thursday 28 May 2026, international press tour to coincide from Wednesday 27 May 2026).
This forthcoming edition of Biennale Gherdëina represents a landmark moment in the event’s history, as it proudly marks its tenth iteration. The 10th edition also heralds new major national and international collaborations across the biennale and beyond.
Amid the Dolomites, Biennale Gherdëina 10: (Future) Paradise Gardens invites us into terrains both tender and turbulent—where gardens become symbols of survival, love, and the possibility of a just future.
As the curator Samuel Leuenberger says:
“The Dolomites provide an inspiring backdrop, rich in natural beauty, artisanal traditions, and timeless mountain narratives — an ideal setting to explore the concept of (Future) Paradise Gardens. These gardens, existing at the intersection of raw natural grandeur and human cultivation, are envisioned not only as sanctuaries for flora and fauna but also as spaces reflecting our collective aspirations for a future grounded in justice and equality. Here, gardens can nourish both body and spirit, serving as places of refuge, possibility, and renewal for all.
The exhibition is structured into distinct chapters, each examining a different facet of the human-made construct we call the garden. Symbolically, metaphorically, and emotionally, the themes center around notions of “Commoning” — where growing and sharing food, alongside caretaking and preserving traces of all life, are given priority. Another chapter, titled “Divine Love and Growth,” invites contemplation of the garden as a symbol of spiritual flourishing and transcendence.
The exhibition further delves into the concept of the “Violent Garden,” addressing the urgent need to decolonize the garden — challenging anthropocentric views and creating space for animals and nature to move freely and reclaim agency. A chapter on “Queer Ecology” also interrogates why nature is often perceived as inherently queer, expanding the conversation on diversity and fluidity within ecological systems. Additionally, the project explores the “Botanical”— the ordering and classification of plant specimens — versus “Gardens as Spaces for Reflection and Poetry,” where gardens transform into sites of introspection, beauty, and creative imagination”.
Biennale Gherdëina 10 - (Future) Paradise Gardens artists will include:
Chanelle Adams (1992, US), Andrius Arutiunian (1991, Armenia/Lithuania), Jacopo Belloni (1992, Italy), Alice Bucknell (1993, UK/US), Leonardo Bürgi (1994, Mexico/Switzerland), Giulia Cenci (1988, Italy), Dorota Gaweda (1986, Poland) & Eglė Kulbokaitė (1987, Lithuania), Sandra Knecht (1968, Switzerland), Judith Neunhäuserer (1990, Italy), Walter Niedermayr (1952, Italy), Masatoshi Noguchi (1988, Japan/Italy), Gabriela Oberkofler (1975, Italy), Lydia Ourahmane (1992, Algeria), Gregor Prugger (1954, Italy) & Leonora Prugger (1995, Italy), Ana Prvacki (1976, Serbia), Augustas Serapinas (1990 Lithuania), Bas Smets (1975, Belgium) & Eliane Le Roux (1983, France), Bosco Sodi (1970, Mexico), Constantin Thun, Kelly Tissot (1995, France), Alvaro Urbano (1983, Spain), Yuyan Wang (1989, China), Evelyn Taocheng Wang (1981, China), Pedro Wirz (1981, Brazil/Switzerland) & Michael Marder (1980, Canada/Portugal).
For its 10th edition, Biennale Gherdëina is delighted to renew its collaborations with long-term parters, and to start new exciting projects with other institutions. Learn more about them in the full press release, available at the link below.
Samuel Leuenberger announced as the Curator of Biennale Gherdëina 2026.
Celebrating its 10th edition, Biennale Gherdëina takes place from 29 May to 13 September 2026.
Samuel Leuenberger, curator of Biennale Gherdëina 10. Portrait by Nicolas Gysin.
Biennale Gherdëina, located in the unique setting of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites, is delighted to announce the appointment of Samuel Leuenberger as the Curator of its 10th edition. Through new commissions and an exhibition programme based on environmental projects and public programming, the biennial has organically grown from one edition to the next, gathering the international art world in the locality, whilst maintaining a strong connection to the cultural, historical and linguistic roots of the Alpine region. Following this vision yet tracing new and unprecedented trajectories, Biennale Gherdëina 10 will take place in Ortisei Urtijëi St. Ulrich and the surrounding areas of Val Gardena, Italy, from 29 May to 13 September 2026.
Samuel Leuenberger is the founder and director of SALTS, a non-profit exhibition space in Birsfelden and Bennwil, Switzerland, which aims to promote interdisciplinary exchange and dialogue with emerging artists. He was most recently the curator of Art Basel’s Messeplatz Project and currently works on the third and last installment of the Art in Public Space Project with Globus in collaboration with Fondation Beyeler. From 2016-2023 he was the curator of Art Basel’s Parcours sector. His curatorial vision is rooted in collaboration, with a focus on empathy and accessibility, often working with artists with whom he shares long-standing relations. His curatorial approach also emphasizes slow, thoughtful engagement with art and architecture and how they link to the natural environment, creating accessible yet thought-provoking experiences.
In response to the nomination, Leuenberger states:
“I am deeply honored and thrilled to be appointed as the Curator for the tenth edition of Biennale Gherdëina, set in such a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. The Dolomites offer an inspiring backdrop, rich in natural beauty, artisanal traditions, and timeless mountain tales — an ideal setting for exploring the concept of (Future) Paradise Gardens. These gardens, situated between the raw grandeur of nature and human cultivation, serve not only as sanctuaries for flora and fauna but also as spaces that reflect our aspirations for a future grounded in justice and equality. In this environment, we can envision gardens that nourish both the body and the spirit, spaces of refuge and possibility for all.”
More information on the programme will be announced in 2025.