Biennale Gherdëina 10: (Future) Paradise Gardens

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).