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The NGV has enjoyed a stellar run of blockbuster exhibitions these past few years, with Yayoi Kusama, French Impressionism and most recently Westwood | Kawakubo. And with this year's Winter Masterpieces confirmed – a sparkling showcase of jewels by Cartier – it's time for another massive announcement.
The fourth NGV Triennial will open on December 13 and run until April 11, 2027, bringing together nearly 100 artists from 35 countries in an immersive snapshot of contemporary art and culture. Expect more than 80 projects – including 25 world-premiere commissions that range from thought-provoking installations to playful, larger-than-life works – across every level of the gallery.
And the magic will start from the moment you arrive – you know the famous Waterwall that greets visitors before they've even stepped inside? This summer, it won’t just welcome you, it’ll stop you in your tracks. The iconic façade will be transformed by Wunambal Gaambera/Worrora artist Angelina Karadada Boona, who reimagines her signature Wandjina figure in light. These powerful ancestral beings that bring rain will rise across the Waterwall in a world-first installation that reminds us of our connection to Country.
Other highlights include Lebanese-French artist Najla El Zein’s sculptural installation that will transform the NGV Forecourt into a tactile, communal space with carved limestone forms designed for sitting, reclining and gathering.
Pamela Rosenkranz will present a new iteration of her 7.5-metre sculpture Old Tree (2023), first commissioned for New York’s High Line. In striking pink, it reimagines the “tree of life” as a bold reflection on humanity’s relationship with nature.
Jenny Holzer’s kinetic sculpture WTF (2022) features a suspended, swinging LED sign flashing online posts by a conspiracy theorist and tweets from Donald Trump’s first term; its erratic movement echoes the chaos of online media.
Wolfgang Tillmans’ Love Life Installation (1989-2022) is a display of 25 photographs spanning abstraction, portraiture and still life while Melbourne artist Louise Paramor will bring 32 massive chess pieces to the Great Hall – yes, visitors can immerse themselves in a larger-than-life game of chess.
Chinar Farooqui celebrates the intricate art of chikankari embroidery. Stitched on sheer muslin, the work honours a centuries-old, women-led craft in India’s Uttar Pradesh.
And you won't want to miss Benedikte Bjerre's The birds (2026), which will see foil inflatable penguins filled with helium take over a large gallery space. This interactive work encourages the audience interact with the penguins, picking them up and watching them float back to the ground. It's a commentary on the destruction of the penguins’ natural habitat amid the ongoing climate crisis.
For younger audiences, there’s Mika Rottenberg’s Squish, Twist, Fizz, a colourful, hands-on world where kids can draw, build and play using recycled materials.
Other artists include Ocean Vuong (Vietnam), Zanele Muholi (South Africa), Shilpa Gupta (India), Mika Rottenberg (Argentina), Christine Sun Kim (USA), Rachel Kneebone (UK), Christine Sun Kim (USA), Frida Escobedo (Mexico), as well as Australians Christian Thompson and Juan Ford.
“Through art and design, the Triennial presents an opportunity to learn, understand and contemplate a world in flux, as well as our place within it,” said NGV director, Tony Ellwood AM. “The NGV Triennial stands as a testament to our incredibly generous network of philanthropic donors. Without their passion for sharing contemporary art and design with all Victorians, we wouldn’t be able to stage an exhibition of this calibre, nor would we be able to build and preserve a collection for the enjoyment of future generations.”
Launched in 2017 and held every three years since, the free Triennial will officially open on December 13. Find out more here.
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