18th Biennale de Lyon Opens Curated by Catherine Nichols

The 18th Biennale de Lyon began on 19 September 2026 and is scheduled to run until 13 December. This edition is curated by Catherine Nichols, who was born in Australia and is currently based in Berlin. Her role as curator has shaped the direction of the biennale for this year’s event.

Among the works presented at the Biennale is Laure Prouvost’s "Hovering Caress Amère" (2022–2026), which is exhibited at the Grandes Locos venue. The inclusion of this work highlights the range of contemporary art on display at the Biennale.

Coinciding with the Biennale’s opening, the Bardi Chapel in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence has reopened after a four-year restoration. The chapel is known for its frescoes by Giotto, which depict scenes from the life of St Francis of Assisi. These frescoes have been restored on both the walls and the vault of the chapel.

The restoration project in Florence involved contributions from Emanuela Daffra, superintendent of the Opficio delle Pietre Dure, and Donata Grossoni, an art historian at the Opera di Santa Croce. Their work focused on conserving the Italian heritage represented by Giotto’s frescoes.

In addition to the Biennale and the restoration in Florence, the Louisiana Museum in Humlebæk, Denmark, is hosting an exhibition of works by Remedios Varo from 18 September 2026 until 10 January 2027. This exhibition is planned to travel to the Moderna Museet in Stockholm in 2027, further contributing to the European art scene during this period.