Banaras Culture Biennale 2026

WORLD’S FIRST BIENNALE DEDICATED TO LIVING CULTURE

The CII Banaras Culture Biennale positions Banaras as a site where history, artistic practice and everyday cultural life continue to shape one another. Rooted in the city’s living traditions, material histories and inherited knowledge systems, the Biennale brings these continuities into dialogue with contemporary artistic and cultural practice.

Through the biennale format, Banaras becomes more than a subject of heritage or cultural presentation; it becomes a space for inquiry, interpretation and new cultural production. Bringing together artists, curators, practitioners, thinkers and communities, the Biennale explores how traditions are carried forward, questioned and reimagined for the present.

LEGACY INITIATIVES

The central intent of the CII Banaras Cultural Biennale is to highlight Varanasi's extraordinary architectural heritage, artisanal traditions, and histories of painting and sculpture while strengthening the city's visual arts ecosystem. CII will launch the Varanasi Healthy Weavers Initiative, addressing gaps in primary healthcare and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and geriatric health among weaving communities. The programme will focus on the identified weaving clusters of Ramnagar, Lohta and Badi Bazar, benefiting an estimated 4,000–5,000 weavers and their families.

The Biennale will also serve as a platform for long-term skills and employment initiatives in Varanasi and eastern UP. These include the establishment of the CII Artisan Skill Training Institute, with Varanasi as the anchor hub and planned centres in Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Chandauli and Azamgarh; a CII Model Career Centre, developed in collaboration with the Employment Exchange; and the CII E2EE Career Lounge at BHU, an industry-led career development centre created through a partnership with BHU

CURATORS

Gayatri Sinha
Lead Curator

Pramod Kumar KG
Textiles & Crafts

Anjan Chakraverty
Jnana Pravaha

FOCUS AREAS

Performing Arts & Music

Visual Art & Photography Exhibition

Craft, Design, Textile Exhibition

Ideas, Dialogue & Masterclasses

Heritage & Tourism

EXPERIENCES

The Pulse

The ghats at dawn. The sound of a sitar drifting through a narrow lane. A weaver threading silk into gold. The evening aarti near the Ganga river. These make up the daily pulse of Banaras.

The Biennale

The Banaras Culture Biennale is where India's artistic legacy meets contemporary expression, across art, crafts, textiles, music, literature, and performance.

The Engagement

Patrons and sponsors are invited to shape exhibitions, host exclusive previews, and play an active role in preserving and advancing India's cultural heritage. Visitors can immerse themselves in exhibitions and live performances, engage with master artisans and contemporary creators, and attend talks.