The Karachi Biennale Trust is thrilled to announce the 5th edition of the Karachi Biennale in January 2027 (KB27) under the curatorial vision of Noor Ahmed. Karachi Biennale is a dynamic art event that connects the art the city and its people.
Through exhibitions, educational programs, and public art projects, the Trust fosters accessibility to art and supports creative expression across communities.
A Visionary Curator for a New Era Noor Ahmed, a curator with a strong foundation in cultural heritage, contemporary art, and digital archiving, brings a dynamic and nuanced vision to KB27. Her interdisciplinary approach and commitment to inclusive narratives are set to shape a biennale that resonates with both local and global audiences.
Building on a legacy of bold artistic innovation and critical engagement, this edition of KB27 aims to push boundaries, spark dialogue, and reimagine the role of contemporary art in Pakistan’s cultural landscape. The Trust looks forward to another energizing iteration, supporting Noor’s vision as she curates an experience that reflects the complexity, creativity, and evolving spirit of Karachi and beyond.
About Curator
Noor Ahmed has made significant contributions to both Pakistani and International art and
cultural institutions. She recently co-curated River Landscapes, a transnational project connecting South Asia and Europe through a transdisciplinary glossary of water.
She was Project Director and Lead Curator of the Digital Curation of Lahore and Taxila Museums, Pakistan’s largest museum digitization initiative, supported by the World Bank and executed in partnership with the Government of Punjab and Citizen Archive Pakistan (CAP). In 2021, she was a key member of the curatorial team for the Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, which won a Silver Award among 192 countries.
From 2022 to 2025, Ahmed led The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP), one of South Asia’s most extensive digital archives. Noor has also served as Assistant Curator for the second Karachi Biennale (KB19) in 2019 which took place in public parks, the zoo and botanical gardens of Karachi. Here she played a key role in research, artist coordination, and exhibition development.
Her writing on contemporary art and culture has been published on both local and international platforms.
Karachi Biennale continues its legacy.
This 5th edition follows four groundbreaking biennials curated by Amin Gulgee (2017), Muhammad Zeeshan (2019), Faisal Anwar (2022), and Waheeda Baloch (2024), each of whom brought a unique perspective to the largest contemporary art event in Pakistan.