Karachi Biennale 2027 Cancelled Citing War Conditions

The Karachi Biennale Trust (KBT) has announced the cancellation of the fifth Karachi Biennale, scheduled to take place from 16 to 31 January 2027, citing regional conflict and logistical challenges.

In a statement published on its website, KBT said it was forced to cancel KB27 due to “the war conditions prevailing in the region and the resultant logistical constraints and incertitude.”

The upcoming edition, titled Kal (Yesterday/Tomorrow), was set to be curated by Noor Ahmed, who previously served as Assistant Curator of the Karachi Biennale in 2019. According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Ahmed described the cancellation as a unilateral decision made without consulting her, expressing concern about its impact on participating artists and Pakistan’s international art ecosystem.

First held in 2017, the Karachi Biennale is one of Pakistan’s major contemporary art events, bringing together local and international artists through exhibitions, educational programmes and public art projects.

In its statement, KBT thanked the artists, sponsors, partners and collaborators who had supported the upcoming edition, expressing hope for continued collaboration in “promoting creativity, innovation and criticality in visual arts.”

Sources: Karachi Biennale Trust

Photo: British Library. (n.d.). Karachi: Arab dhows [Photograph]. India Office Records and Private Papers, Photo 496/6/3. Qatar Digital Library.