Nomadic biennial Manifesta to land in Coimbra for its 2028 edition

Manifesta, Europe’s nomadic biennial of contemporary art and urban practice, will be held in Coimbra, Portugal in 2028 – the first time the country will host the influential event.

Manifesta 17 will be a collaborative edition developed with Anozero, a biennial co-organised by the Municipality of Coimbra and the University of Coimbra.

Announcing the decision in a statement this week, Portugal’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, said: “Bringing Manifesta to Coimbra is a strategic opportunity that reflects the government’s commitment to culture in its various dimensions and across the entire territory.”

“This decision is of great significance,” she added, “as it recognises the value of a transformative dialogue between art and society, bringing to the city, the region and the country a major cultural event with proven economic return and strong tourism potential.”

Founded in 1996, Manifesta takes place every two years in a different European host city or region, with the aim of engaging local contexts and communities in collaborative cultural production.

Past editions have taken place in cities such as Palermo, Marseille, Rotterdam, and most recently, Barcelona in 2024.

The decision to bring Manifesta to Coimbra reflects the organisers’ ambition to work more closely with local initiatives, particularly those embedded in rich historical and academic contexts. 

Hedwig Fijen, the director and founding head of Manifesta, highlighted this shift: “Manifesta is entering a new phase of cross-cultural collaboration within the European arts and architecture landscape by partnering with the Coimbra-based biennial Anozero.”

According to Fijen, Anozero, led by Carlos Antunes and Désirée Pedro, “reflects a shared commitment to working together across institutions and contexts.” She affirmed that  such collaborative practices “not only essential but may well represent the future of the art world.”

The 2028 edition will be supported by a network of national partners, including Portugal’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Tourism. The biennial will be shaped by a combination of Manifesta’s international team and local experts from Coimbra, as well as Portuguese cultural practitioners.

Known for its Romanesque architecture and academic legacy, Coimbra is home to several key heritage sites. Among them is the Old Cathedral (Sé Velha), dating back to 1117, and the University of Coimbra, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013. These historical landmarks, alongside the city’s dynamic artistic community, are expected to serve as both backdrop and inspiration for Manifesta 17.

Manifesta 16 will precede the Portuguese edition, taking place in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, from 21 June to 4 October 2026. That edition, spread across multiple post-industrial cities, will continue the biennial’s exploration of art as a tool for civic transformation and speculative futures.