The 2025 BoCA Biennial of Contemporary Arts program, announced today, will revolve around the theme “Camino Irreal” under the curation of John Romão, newly appointed as the artistic director for Évora’s European Capital of Culture in 2027.
Running from September 10 to October 26, BoCA aims to forge a new Iberian axis for artistic creation and presentation, assembling multidisciplinary projects that merge performing and visual arts, music, and cinema, as stated in the program’s introductory text.
A highlight of this edition is the world premiere of the opera “Adilson,” directed by Dino D’Santiago with a libretto by Rui Catalão, focusing on the struggle of thousands for citizenship and recognition in their residing country.
“Pemba,” both a stage creation and large-scale installation about migration flows and the persistence of memory, by Kiluanji Kia Henda, is another premiere for BoCA 2025.
Further highlights include a new performative installation by visual artist Adriana Progranó in public spaces, the performance “De espiral em espiral” by Guatemalan multimedia artist Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa, which intertwines colonial history with familial divination practices, and the performative vigil “O Julgamento de Pelicot” by Swiss director Milo Rau with actress Servane Dècle, following a real-world sexual violence case that shook France and challenged justice through art.
Filmmakers João Pedro Rodrigues and João Rui Guerra da Mata will present a new film, “13 Alfinetes,” which explores devotion and desire in dialogue with the visual memory of Lisbon and Madrid, while choreographer Tânia Carvalho and singer-performer Rocío Guzmán will perform a concert that blends Portuguese traditional songs and flamenco to reflect on shared heritages.
Other announced highlights include “Uma ficção na dobra do mapa,” a project by choreographers and dancers Elena Córdoba and Francisco Camacho revisiting their initial creative meeting, and the creation “Os rapazes da praia de Adoro,” which uses a queer and male intimacy imaginary to explore the Portugal-Spain relationship through a fictional territory, by Spanish playwright and director Alberto Cortés and Portuguese painter João Gabriel.
The 5th edition of BoCA will take place in renowned cultural venues across Lisbon and Madrid.
In Lisbon, the biennial will be held at venues such as the Centro Cultural de Belém, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), Culturgest, the Bairro Alto Theatre, Estufa Fria, Carpintarias de São Lázaro, and the Portuguese Cinematheque.
In Madrid, BoCA will be hosted at institutions including the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum, Teatro de La Abadia, the National Museum of Costume, and the Spanish Film Archive.
