The Ultimate Guide to the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2025 Opening Week

The 6th Edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale is finally here. Hosted across several public venues on the islands, this year's programme celebrates the unique context and communities of Kochi.

If you are planning your trip to Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, or Willingdon Island, navigating the massive schedule can be daunting. We have curated the complete Opening Week Programme (December 12–17, 2025) to help you catch every performance, walkthrough, and inauguration.

Here is your day-by-day guide to KMB 2025.

Friday, 12th December 2025: The Grand Opening

The festivities kick off at the main venue, Aspinwall House, with traditional percussion and the official flag hoisting.

11:45 am | Aspinwall House
- Gates Open: The venue officially opens to the public
- Thayambaka: Witness a high-energy percussion performance on the Chenda (traditional drums) by Margi Rahitha Krishnadas and team
12:00 pm | Aspinwall House
- Flag Hoisting: The official hoisting of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale flag
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm | Aspinwall House
- Public Walkthrough: Join KMB Curator Nikhil Chopra along with HH Art Spaces for the very first tour of the edition
1:00 pm | Courtyard, Aspinwall House
- Performance: A New Alphabet by Monica de Miranda
1:30 pm | Coir Godown, Aspinwall House
- Performance: Procession for a Shifting Storm by Zarina Muhammad
3:00 pm | Island Warehouse, Willingdon Island
- Walkthrough: Nikhil Chopra and HH Art Spaces lead a tour at the Willingdon Island venue
- Travel Tip: Use the Water Metro, Mattancherry ferry, or a short auto/taxi ride. It is recommended to start travel by 2:30 pm
4:00 pm | SMS Hall
- Performance: Hallucinations of an Artefact by Mandeep Raikhy
5:30 pm | Parade Ground, Fort Kochi
- Official Inauguration: The 6th Edition will be inaugurated by Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, the Honorable Chief Minister of Kerala
7:00 pm | Parade Ground, Fort Kochi
- Concert: Live music by Shanka Tribe

Saturday, 13th December 2025: Warehouses & Sufi Nights

A day dedicated to exploring the warehouses, special projects, and a musical finale.

11:00 am | VKL Warehouse
- Opening: Students' Biennale 2025-26
12:00 pm | Armaan Collective & Cafe Edam
- Curated Showcase: Works curated by Aishwarya Suresh and KM Madhusudhanan
1:00 pm | SIMI Warehouse
- Invitations Walkthrough: Exhibitions with Alice Yard and Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Panamá
2:30 pm | Durbar Hall, Ernakulam
- KBF Special Project: Opening of Gulam Mohammed Sheikh’s project
- Conversation: Gulam Mohammed Sheikh in conversation with Roobina Karode and Nikhil Chopra
3:00 pm | Parliament of Ghosts, Anand Warehouse
- Conversation: Ibrahim Mahama (Note: This event also repeats on Dec 14 at 3:00 pm)
3:00 pm | Jail of Freedom Struggle
- Invitations Walkthrough: With Alkazi Theatre Archives
3:45 pm | David Hall
- Invitations Walkthrough: With Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute
4:30 pm | Oottupura, Pazhayannur Bhagavathi Temple
- Opening: Conflictorium
5:30 pm | Cube artSpace
- Opening: Six Stations of a life pursued by Vivan Sundaram
5:30 pm | Aspinwall House
- Performance: Paakkalam by Smitha M. Babu & collaborators
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Devassy & Sons
- Invitations & Residency Opening: Featuring Bienal das Amazônias, Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research, The Packet, and ruangrupa/Gudskul
8:30 pm | Parade Ground
- Concert: Mehfil-e-Sama'a, a specialized Sufi-Hindustani classical music ensemble

Sunday, 14th December 2025: Art for Everyone

Highlights include the Children's programme, collateral projects, and indigenous folk performances.

10:00 am | Various Venues
- Collateral Programme Opening: Featuring major partners like Ardee Foundation, Forplay Society, Gallerie Splash, massArt, Rizq Art Initiative, and more
12:00 pm | Space, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mattancherry
- Walkthrough: With Nikhil Chopra, KHOJ, and Govandi Arts Festival
2:00 pm | Water Metro Station, Fort Kochi
- Opening: Art By Children (ABC) Programme
3:00 pm | The Stage, Cochin Club
- Gathering: South as Method — Institutions from the Invitations Programme and curators discuss their contexts and projects
4:00 pm | Aspinwall House
- Performance: Yuko Kaseki
5:00 pm | Jail of Freedom Struggle
- Lecture Performance: Circle of Fragments: A Spiritual Architecture of Care. A site-specific lecture performance curated by Anissa Touati with philosopher Mohamed Amer Meziane and design critic Malkit Shoshan
5:00 pm | SMS Hall
- Performance: Hallucinations of an Artefact by Mandeep Raikhy
5:00 pm | Pepper House
- Performance: Chicago Boys by Hiwa K
5:30 pm | Aspinwall House
- Performance: Paakkalam by Smitha M. Babu & collaborators
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Arthshila Kochi & St. Andrew's Parish Hall
- Vernissage: Students' Biennale 2025-26
7:30 pm | Parade Ground
- Amma Kala Sangam: Folk music performance by indigenous artists Nanjiyamma and Team
9:00 pm | Parade Ground
- Chavittu Nadakam: A performance of the energetic Latin Christian theatre form (originating in 16th-century Kochi) by Yuva Kerala Chavittu Nadaka Kalasamithi, Kurumbathuruth

Monday, 15th December 2025: Ideas & Alternative Rock

Start the week with deep conversations and end with The F16s.

11:00 am | The Pavilion, Bastion Bungalow
- Conversation: HH Art Spaces, Nikhil Chopra, and Mario D'Souza unpack the themes and adventures of making this edition
11:15 am | The Pavilion, Bastion Bungalow
- Lecture Performance: Statues Must Die by Naeem Mohaiemen & Mallika Taneja
5:00 pm | The Stage, Cochin Club
- Film Screening: Ackroyd & Harvey: The Art of Activism by Fiona Cunningham Reid
5:00 pm | 111 Markaz & Cafe, Bazaar Road
- Performance: Uriel Barthelemi
5:00 pm | Island Warehouse, Willingdon Island
- Performance: Yuko Kaseki
7:00 pm | The Pavilion, Bastion Bungalow
- Concert: The F16s (Alternative Rock Band)

Tuesday, 16th December 2025: Lectures & Legends

Insightful lectures and a tribute to the legendary H. Mehboob.

11:00 am | The Pavilion, Bastion Bungalow
- Lecture: Brook Andrew
5:00 pm | SMS Hall
- Performance: Hallucinations of an Artefact by Mandeep Raikhy
7:30 pm | The Pavilion, Bastion Bungalow
- Concert: Mehboob Memorial Orchestra. Named after the legendary H. Mehboob, this was the first orchestra in Kerala to popularise Ghazal singing

Wednesday, 17th December 2025: The Closing of Opening Week

A finale rooted in the traditions of Central Kerala.

7:30 pm | The Pavilion, Bastion Bungalow
- Performance: Karinthalakoottam. A folk band from the Pulaya community of Central Kerala presenting art forms like Thira, Vattamudi Kolam, and Karimkali Kolam

📍 Key Venues at a Glance

Make sure to check your map for these locations:

Fort Kochi: Aspinwall House, Parade Ground, Pepper House, David Hall, Bastion Bungalow
Mattancherry: Anand Warehouse, Mattancherry Hall, Synagogue Lane
Willingdon Island: Island Warehouse, Port Trust
Ernakulam: Durbar Hall

Note: Programmes are subject to change. Please check the official Biennale website and social media channels for the latest updates.