7th Mardin Biennial Opens Its Doors

Hosted by the Mardin Cinema Association and directed by Döne Otyam and Hakan Irmak, the 7th Mardin Biennial officially welcomed visitors with its opening program held on May 15, 2026 at the Sakip Sabanci Mardin City Museum. Curated by Çelenk Bafra and presented with the main sponsorship of PEUGEOT, the biennial will continue to meet art audiences across various locations in Mardin until June 21, 2026.

Held under the title “SKYground,” the biennial brings together 42 artists and artist collectives from Turkey and 20 different countries in Mardin. Shaped through exhibitions, site-specific installations, performances, and public space projects, this year’s edition expands beyond the boundaries of the old city for the first time, inviting visitors to explore the region’s diverse geographies.

This year, the 7th Mardin Biennial takes place across Sakip Sabanci Mardin City Museum, Deyrulzafaran Monastery, Dara Ancient City, Kervansaray, Marangozlar Coffeehouse, and Ates Beyler Bathhouse, which is participating as a biennial venue for the first time. The biennial extends beyond exhibition spaces into the city itself — through a shopkeeper sharing his coffeehouse, a family opening their bathhouse to the biennial, and the relationships it establishes within everyday life.

The opening program was held with strong participation from artists, curators, arts and culture professionals, members of the press, and visitors from different countries.

The Mardin Biennial continues this year, with significant public interest, to sustain the relationship it builds between contemporary art and the geography in which it takes place through different venues and encounters.

7th Mardin Biennial
15 May – 21 June 2026