Welcome to the Artpil’s 174th edition of Prescriptions. We are in the month of May and festival season is upon us. From Venice Biennale’s 61st International Art Exhibition, Biennale of Sydney’s 25th Edition and Urban Art Biennale 2026 to BAM’s own Winter/Spring 2026 program; From the recently wrapped up Circulation(s) and Photo London and the last days of Festival de Cannes’s 79th Edition, to the imminent Getxophoto: RESET and Auckland Festival of Photography.
Today is May 20th. On this day in 1609, William Shakespeare published his Sonnets.
Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone besmear’d with sluttish time.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.
‘Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.
So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lover’s eyes.
– William Shakespeare
Welcome to the 174th edition of Prescriptions. Here is our look at recent events in the arts.
The End of It / Directed by: Maria Martínez Bayona, 2026, United Kingdom, Spain, Norway
Festival de Cannes / 79th Edition
The Festival de Cannes is one of the world’s most widely publicized events and the most important film festival in terms of worldwide impact through the works, artists and the themes it presents. Through May 23, 2026.
Anouk Chambaz
If We Could Inhabit the Skin
Anouk Chambaz: a Dramaturgy for Living the Boundary. On the occasion of the exhibition “Sometimes I Get Goosebumps” hosted by Recontemporary, artist Anouk Chambaz expresses her vision of a space of subtraction between the self and the other in a dual vision. Interview by Chiara Causo
Mohamed Hassan, Our Hidden Room
Getxophoto: RESET
In this 2026 edition, Getxophoto turns twenty, after a trilogy dedicated to PAUSE, PLAY, and REC, the theme of this very special edition could only be RESET, an invitation to reboot the system. On view May 28 – June 21, 2026.
Michael Craig
Auckland Festival of Photography 2026
The Auckland Festival of Photography is a city-wide contemporary art and cultural event which takes place within Auckland’s major galleries, project spaces, non-gallery venues and public sites during June each year. The programme includes a mix of emerging and established artists and comprises existing works and creation of new work. On view May 29 – June 14, 2026
Clodagh O’Leary
Circulation(s) 2026 / 16th Edition
A springboard for artists, festival Circulation(s) is the place to be and a reflection of the vibrant contemporary European art scene, as well as the must-see event for the photography of tomorrow. Through May 17, 2026.
Tomas Lacque, Étude de l’anthropocene, 2026
Urban Art Biennale 2026
The URBAN ART BIENNALE is one of the world’s largest exhibitions of this anarchic art form, which transcends conventional ‘white cube’ aesthetics. Since 2011, every two years, the entire site of the Völklinger Hütte enters into dialog with this art form that has evolved from street art and graffiti. Through November 15, 2026.
Janet Delaney, Dad in the Bath, 1980 / EUQINOM Gallery
Photo London 2026 / 11th Edition
Photo London brings the finest international photography to the British capital every year, presenting the best historic and vintage works while also spotlighting fresh perspectives in photography. Through May 17, 2026.
Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale 2026
The 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia – In Minor Keys by Koyo Kouoh (1967–2025) – will run from Saturday 9 May to Sunday 22 November 2026 (preview 6, 7, 8 May) at the Giardini and the Arsenale venues, and in various locations around Venice. Through November 22, 2026.
Age of Content / Ballet national de Marseille – (LA)HORDE
BAM Winter/Spring 2026
BAM’s Winter/Spring season delivers a slate of innovative, full-tilt artistic visions, featuring major theatrical events like the National Theatre’s Hamlet and new works by American Opera Projects and V. Through June 2026.
Citra Sasmita, Timur Merah Project X
Biennale of Sydney / 25th Edition
The Biennale of Sydney is one of the leading international contemporary art events. It plays an indispensable role in Australia’s engagement with the world, and a meaningful role in the life of the nation. On view through June 14, 2026.
