The seeds of the Kathmandu Triennale were sown in 2009 with the establishment of the Kathmandu International Art Festival (KIAF). Organized by the Siddhartha Arts Foundation, the festival aimed to foster dialogue between Nepali and international artists. The first edition, themed "Earth | Body | Mind," explored human connections with nature and spirituality, setting the stage for what would later evolve into the Triennale.
Over the years, KIAF became a space for critical discourse, addressing social and political issues through contemporary art. The 2012 edition, "Mindfulness," featured over 100 artists from 31 countries and focused on art’s role in society, emphasizing Nepal’s cultural heritage alongside global concerns.
In 2017, the festival rebranded as the Kathmandu Triennale, with the ambition of placing Nepal on the global contemporary art map. This shift marked a commitment to a structured, large-scale international exhibition occurring every three years, similar to the Venice Biennale or the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
The 2017 edition, curated by Philippe Van Cauteren, was themed "The City, My Studio / The City, My Life." It transformed Kathmandu into a living gallery, integrating art into everyday life. Installations, performances, and exhibitions sprawled across heritage sites, abandoned buildings, and contemporary venues, blurring the lines between history and modernity.
Scheduled for 2020, the next edition was set to be the biggest yet, but the global COVID-19 pandemic forced a postponement. It was eventually held in 2022 under the theme "Language is Migrant," curated by Cosmin Costinaș and Sheelasha Rajbhandari. The Triennale explored migration, displacement, and language as a fluid medium of expression. Featuring over 100 artists from around the world, the exhibition embraced indigenous narratives, oral histories, and marginalized voices, reinforcing Nepal’s role as a bridge between tradition and contemporary thought.
The Kathmandu Triennale has positioned Nepal as a key player in contemporary art, providing a stage for artists from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and indigenous communities. Unlike commercial art fairs, it prioritizes critical engagement over market-driven trends, making it a space for experimentation and dialogue.
Beyond the exhibitions, the Triennale has fostered education programs, public workshops, and artist residencies, ensuring that its impact extends beyond the elite art world and into communities. It has also revived interest in traditional Nepali art forms by engaging local artisans alongside contemporary practitioners.
The fifth edition of the Kathmandu Triennale is scheduled for February 2026, organized by the Siddhartha Art Foundation (SAF) in collaboration with the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). This edition will explore the theme of "Coexistence", focusing on the kinship among all beings, cultures, ecologies, faith, and thoughts.
Welcome to the premier arts festival of Nepal.