PROGRAMME
provisional
For 85 days, Guimarães will host a vibrant and multidisciplinary programme centered around the theme – By a Thread – which includes exhibitions, artistic residencies, performances, interventions in public spaces, workshops, and the Textile Talks, celebrating the richness of contemporary art and textile culture.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
Contextile’s International Exhibition (competitive) gathers 50 works by 50 artists from all over the world, selected (from an Open Call) by an international jury composed of Cláudia Melo, Lala de Dios, Lewis Biggs, Magali Junet, Magda Soboń and Susana Pires. The works will be selected based on the concept of this 8th edition – BY A THREAD / POR UM FIO.
Palácio Vila Flor – CCVF
Av. Dom Afonso Henriques, 701
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AI WEIWEI
INVITED ARTIST
Ai Weiwei is the invited artist of Contextile 2026. A global artist and world-renowned figure, he accepted our challenge to intervene in Guimarães, as part of the biennial, on the theme of this 8th edition, By a Thread. He will design several interventions in public spaces and at CIAJG, in partnership with various companies and entities in the region.
CIAJG – Centro Internacional das Artes José de Guimarães
Avenida Conde Margaride, 175
PAC – Praça das Artes e da Criatividade
Avenida Conde Margaride, 175
Bairro de Couros
“A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER?”
MATERIAL STORYTELLING IN A AGE OF UNCERTAINTY
The exhibition, curated by Janis Jefferies, suggests reflecting on the current social context, with governments, big oil companies and the financial sector rejecting climate commitments, and challenges artists to reimagine our future, to renew and adapt, crafting new narratives about who we are and what we value. It features works by 5 artists who work in various media and are at the forefront of this resistance, in cultural terms and from a global perspective, using textiles to narrate and tell stories.
Jakkai Siributr (Thailand)
Movana Chen (Hong Kong)
Simon Callery (England)
Taloi Havini (Papua New Guinea)
Teresa Lanceta (Spain)
PALACETE DE SANTIAGO
Praça de São Tiago, 31
SOCIEDADE MARTINS SARMENTO
R. Paio Galvão, 2
GALERIA GARAGEM AVENIDA
Av. D. Afonso Henriques, 250
WEAVING THE GREEN
TECER O VERDE
PUBLIC ART INTERVENTIONS
5 September – 29 November
ARTISTIC RESIDENCIES
10 October – 29 November
In partnership with Guimarães European Green Capital 2026, this edition’s artistic residencies reinforce the synergy between contemporary textile art, the textile industry, the region’s traditions and raw materials with the themes of sustainability and a focus on the creation of sculptural and installation works in public spaces.
ARTISTIC RESIDENCIES
ARQUIVO MUNICIPAL
Rua João Lopes de Faria, 12
CONVENTO SANTO ANTÓNIO DOS CAPUCHOS
Rua Dr. Joaquim de Meira
PUBLIC ART INTERVENTIONS
FORNOS DA CRUZ DE PEDRA
R. das Lameiras, 55
+ Espaço Público
MERCADO MUNICIPAL
R. do Montinho, 5
R. Alfredo Guimarães
“EMERGÊNCIAS”
Artistic Education and Textile Creation
Furthering the initiative of the previous editions, Contextile, once again, invites art schools that include textile-based subjects to involve their students in the challenge of creating andproducing textile artworks. These works are presented in an exhibition with the participation of Escola Artística Soares dos Reis, Escola Artística António Arroio, Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade de Lisboa, Escola Superior de Artes e Design – Porto, Escola de Arquitetura, Arte e Design da Universidade do Minho, Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e Ave, Universidade da Beira Interior.
IDEGUI – Instituto de Design de Guimarães
Rua da Ramada
TEXTILE TALKS
Art and Sustainability
One of the key elements of the Biennial’s mission to position textiles in the field of contemporary art is to promote reflection and dialogue around ideas and practices. In this edition, in partnership with Guimarães European Green Capital 2026 and commissioned by Susana Milão, Ricardo Gil Pereira, Lala de Dios and Isabel Cabral, Textile Talks focuses on the synergies between Art and Sustainability, providing a platform for the presentation and discussion of artistic projects.
6 and 7 September
AUDITÓRIO CCVF
Av. Dom Afonso Henriques, 701
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WORKSHOPS
A series of technical and creative workshops are planned, covering different artistic areas, addressed to artists and the general public.
September / October / November
ATELIERS CRUZ DE PEDRA
R. das Lameiras 55
