Since its founding in 1973, the Biennale of Sydney has been an international platform for contemporary art that challenges perspectives and fosters creative expression. Our mission is to invigorate Australian visual culture through exhibitions and programs that enrich lives, stimulate creativity and encourage dialogue, while broadening audiences and deepening community engagement with contemporary art.
Rememory opened the doors to over 12,000 visitors across the first weekend, marking a vibrant start to the edition and reflecting the breadth of artistic exchange. From the sharing of Ngurrara Canvas II, to artist talks and performances across Greater Sydney, and families gathering at Memory Lane Markets at White Bay Power Station, audiences engaged with the program in diverse and meaningful ways.
On 13 March 2026 the Biennale’s opening night Lights On contained a DJ set by New York based artist DJ Haram. During the set, DJ Haram made strongly worded proclamations and a soundscape which some people found confronting and distressing. This performance deviated significantly from the agreed brief, without prior notice, and was contrary to the artist agreement in place. The Biennale is firmly committed to the principle of artistic expression, and when artists are engaged by the Biennale and speaking from our public platforms, this must be done in a way that brings people together in an inclusive and welcoming manner. It needs to fulfill a duty of care to all the artists in our program, as well as our audiences.
The Biennale did not commission, approve, or have prior knowledge of the remarks made by the artist during her performance. These statements were contrary to the artist agreement in place, and should not have occurred on a Biennale platform. The views expressed are entirely those of the artist and do not reflect the Biennale, its Board, or its partners.
We strongly condemn language that incites division or harm. It is deeply regrettable that a single moment has overshadowed the work of 83 artists and collectives, and the wider program of participating artists contributing to this significant international festival. The Biennale is committed to supporting all participating artists, and to ensuring that no single event detracts from the collective contribution of the full program.
The Biennale has conducted an internal review following the incident on Friday night and strengthened its operational and governance measures. These include:
- direct correspondence with all Biennale artists following the review
- a further comprehensive risk reassessment of all remaining public programs and performances
- enhanced conditions of entry for all public programming events
- strengthened pre-performance briefings with all people involved with the event
- active stage management protocols
- additional audience support and incident management protocols
We have asked all participants to consider the impact of their words and actions, and the context in which they are presented. Even in difficult or contested conversations, it is possible to foster understanding, connection and a shared sense of humanity, and to engage in critical, thought-provoking dialogue without causing harm.
At the same time, it is important to maintain a clear distinction between personal expression and the public platforms provided by the Biennale of Sydney. To ensure our spaces remain welcoming, inclusive and accessible, there are clear standards that the Biennale and its participants must uphold. All content and activity presented on Biennale platforms must:
- comply with Australian law
- not target or disparage any individual
- not target or disparage groups of people defined by religion, culture, country of origin, gender or sexuality
We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, hate speech and any form of incitement.
The Biennale of Sydney remains committed to presenting a world-class program that brings people together through art, supports artists, and fosters dialogue across communities. In complex times, the role of the arts in encouraging understanding, empathy and exchange remains vital.