ArtDependence | Manifesta 16 Ruhr opens Across Four Cities in Germany’s Ruhr Area

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Manifesta 16 Ruhr opens across four cities in Germany's Ruhr Area - Duisburg, Essen, Bochum and Gelsenkirchen -, transforming twelve post-war church buildings into sites for contemporary art and architecture, social design and community encounter.

Taking place during the European Nomadic Biennial's 30th anniversary year, Manifesta 16 Ruhr asks a timely question: how can existing neighbourhood infrastructure be reimagined to support new forms of collective life in an era marked by social fragmentation, growing inequality and polarisation?

Under the title This is not a church, the programme has been co-developed by an interdisciplinary team, composed of eight Creative Mediators: Josep Bohigas, Gürsoy Doğtaş and three intergenerational tandems from different countries — the British tandem Michael Kurtz & Henry Meyric Hughes, the German tandem René Block & Leonie Herweg, and the Polish tandem Krzystof Kosciuczuk & Anda Rottenberg. The model reflects Manifesta 16 Ruhr's commitment to dialogue across generations and borders, responding firmly to contemporary European realities shaped by mistrust, misinformation and social division.

Manifesta 16 Ruhr presents a significant number of newly commissioned works, with 67 new commissions and a total participant list of 107. Participants from more than 25 countries contributes to the programme, with Germany, Poland and Turkey among the most strongly represented reflecting the Ruhr Area's complex histories of migration.

Manifesta 16 Ruhr lasts for fifteen weeks until the 4th of October 2026. It is entirely free to visit all the twelve venues as well as a lively programme of events, workshops, family activities and walks.