The third edition of Helsinki Biennial will be curated by art historian, curator and HAM’s Head of Exhibitions Kati Kivinen, and curator, art historian and researcher Blanca de la Torre.

The upcoming biennial will spread across three distinct venues: the unique maritime setting of Vallisaari Island, Esplanade Park in the heart of Helsinki, and HAM Helsinki Art Museum’s Tennis Palace premises.

The theme of the biennial’s third edition, Shelter, takes inspiration from the habitat of Vallisaari Island, which has been preserved from human habitation for decades. The biennial reflects on the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. Moving beyond human-centric perspectives, the featured artworks foreground animals, plants, fungi, insects and minerals. The biennial seeks to forge new spaces of protection and inspire positive environmental action.

The artists and collectives of Helsinki Biennial 2025 are Maria Thereza Alves (BR/DE), Band of Weeds (FI), Ana Teresa Barboza (PE), Sissel M Bergh (NO/Sapmi), Sara Bjarland (NL/FI), Saskia Calderón (EC), Edgar Calel (GT), Tania Candiani (MX), Regina de Miguel (ES/DE), Olafur Eliasson (DK/IC), Carola Grahn (Saepmie/SE), Tue Greenfort (DK), Kalle Hamm (FI) & Dzamil Kamanger (IR/FI), Tamara Henderson (CA/AU), Gunzi Holmström (FI), Katie Holten (IE/US), Ingela Ihrman (SE), Geraldine Javier (PH), Aluaiy Kaumakan (TW), Kristiina Koskentola (FI/NL), Yayoi Kusama (JP), Jenni Laiti (FI/SE) & Carl-Johan Utsi (SE), LOCUS / Thale Blix Fastvold & Tanja Thorjussen (NO), nabbteeri (FI), Ernesto Neto (BR), Otobong Nkanga (NG/BE), Giuseppe Penone (IT), Laura Põld (EE/AT), Marjetica Potrč (SI), Kati Roover (EE/FI), Hans Rosenström (FI), Paul Rosero Contreras (EC), Raimo Saarinen (FI), Pia Sirén (FI), Theresa Traore Dahlberg (SE/BF), Nomeda & Gediminas Urbonas (LT/US) and Juan Zamora (ES).

Vallisaari, Esplanade Park and HAM Helsinki Art Museum

8.6.-21.9.2025

Tue-Sun 11.00-18.00

Tickets: 

The exhibition on Vallisaari Island is free of charge. There is a fee for the ferry. The ferry route is run by FRS Finland. 

The exhibition in Esplanade Park is free of charge.

There is a museum admission fee for the biennial exhibition at HAM Helsinki Art Museum: 20 € / 12 € / 0 €