Jerusalem Biennale turns art into catalyst for post-October 7 healing

Alongside the exhibitions, the seven-week program will include gallery discussions, artist and curator talks, guided tours, workshops, performances, and special events.

The Jerusalem Biennale will open its seventh and largest edition on Thursday, bringing a powerful message of resilience to the heart of Israel.

Running through November 12, the city-wide contemporary art experience will span 21 venues across Jerusalem and feature over 250 Israeli and international artists in 42 exhibitions. Entry to the Biennale exhibitions is free, except for select venues that require a standard entry fee.

This year’s theme, De Profundis (From the Depths) – derived from the opening words of Psalm 130 – explores memory, spirituality, and identity in the wake of post-October 7 collective trauma. Founder and creative director Rami Ozeri described the theme as a catalyst for movement, stating that art creates a passage from the personal and collective subconscious toward expression, connection, and light.

The 2026 Biennale features several internationally acclaimed Israeli contemporary artists. Yehudit Sasportas will premiere Mishpat Mokesh (A Mined Sentence) on October 12 at the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum. The video and sound installation reflects her exploration of buried histories, trauma, and the possibility of transformation and healing.

Belu-Simion Fainaru will participate in the central exhibition, Or Chozer (Reflected Light). Hanita Ilan, winner of the 2025 Rappaport Prize, will present a solo exhibition at Hamiffal Gallery.

Exhibitions confront current moment complexities directly

Highlighted exhibitions directly confront the complexities of the current moment. Or Chozer features 20 artists engaging with Mordecai Ardon’s utopian windows, questioning how to sustain a vision of peace amid brokenness.

At the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, Open Wound brings together 14 Israeli and Diaspora artists to explore the borderless reverberations of October 7.

Alongside the exhibitions, the seven-week program will include gallery discussions, artist and curator talks, guided tours, workshops, performances, and special events. These gatherings give audiences opportunities to engage directly with the artists and ideas behind the artwork, turning the Biennale into a form of communal prayer reaching for renewal and hope.