City: Bukhara
Bukhara Biennial
Venue: Bukhara
Official site: www.bukharabiennial.uz
Bukhara’s roots as a crossroads of culture, knowledge, and craftsmanship for over two millennia inspired a new chapter marked by Uzbekistan’s first major international art biennial and a new and evolving Cultural District. The Bukhara Biennial reflects a wider vision spearheaded by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF): to revitalise heritage not as a static memory, but as a foundation for creative futures.
The 2025 inaugural edition was curated by Diana Campbell under the theme Recipes for Broken Hearts. Running from 5th September to 23rd November 2025 the 10-week-long, interdisciplinary event convened global and regional artists alongside Uzbekistan’s master artisans, drawing 1.8 million visitors. All commissions were site-specific and produced by ACDF in Uzbekistan – a tribute to the enduring power of local craft and collaboration. The 2027 edition will be curated by Kulapat Yantrasast and will run from 3 September to 21 November 2027.
Bukhara’s inaugural and evolving Cultural District brings new purpose to restored landmarks of historic significance including the Magoki Attori Mosque and centuries-old caravanserais, brought to life by the biennial as the first of many initiatives. In the future the Cultural District will welcome a fine art museum, an exhibition space, a music school, a studio for artists, and a digital archive.
Both the Bukhara Biennial and Cultural District form part of a long-term, holistic masterplan for the UNESCO Creative Cities of Craft & Folk Art. This plan is spearheaded by Gayane Umerova with Wilmotte & Associés as the lead architecture practice.