Manifesta 16 Ruhr to Transform Churches into Art Sites Across Germany

The 16th edition of the European Nomadic Biennial, Manifesta 16 Ruhr, is scheduled to run from June 21 to October 4, 2026. This iteration will activate twelve church spaces across four cities in Germany's Ruhr region, focusing on contemporary art, architecture, and social design.

The biennial's program will feature contributions from artists including Cabosanroque Collective, Abbas Zahedi, and Akbar Behkalam. This curatorial approach aims to explore themes of community encounter, urban vision, and civic engagement, engaging with the region's historical industrialization and its contemporary urban landscape.

By repurposing religious sites, Manifesta 16 Ruhr seeks to foster cultural reactivation and dialogue within the Ruhr area. The initiative ties into broader discussions of modernity and the region's significance, including its status as home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Zeche Zollverein.