OVNi Biennale in Nice 2026: Contemporary Art, Video Installations and Performance

From 13 November to 14 December 2026, Nice will become a meeting point for artists, contemporary art enthusiasts and visitors curious about new forms of visual expression. The OVNi Biennale, an international event dedicated to moving images, brings together video art, experimental cinema, digital technologies and artistic experimentation across cultural venues throughout the city — and even inside hotel rooms. If you are planning an autumn trip to the French Riviera, start with what's on in Nice to combine the exhibitions with concerts, shows and other events.

OVNi explores how the art of moving images is evolving through technology, innovative storytelling and new ways of engaging audiences. Video is not simply a medium for presenting a story on a screen. It becomes an artistic material in its own right, interacting with sound, architecture, movement and digital environments. The result can transform a familiar exhibition space into an experimental setting where visitors are encouraged to look, listen and interpret what they experience.

The Biennale is not intended exclusively for art professionals. It can also appeal to travellers who want to discover Nice's contemporary cultural scene beyond traditional museums and classical art collections. Visiting different venues offers an opportunity to experience a wide range of artistic approaches, from video installations and short films to projects exploring the human body, movement and the relationship between people and their surroundings.

The programme also features opportunities for audiences to engage with artists and their ideas through meetings, workshops, educational activities and other public events. These formats can offer a deeper understanding of the creative process behind the artworks and the questions that contemporary artists are exploring.

Moving images are particularly relevant to today's visual culture because they combine several elements at once. A video installation may use a sequence of images, sound and the physical characteristics of a room to create an atmosphere that would be impossible to reproduce on a conventional screen. Rather than simply watching a film from beginning to end, visitors may be invited to move through an environment and discover different perspectives.

One of OVNi's central themes is experimentation with moving images. Screens can appear in unexpected locations, while video sequences may become part of a larger installation. Artists explore how images influence perception, how sound changes the way we interpret what we see, and how new technologies can be used to reflect on contemporary life.

Visitors can expect exhibition projects, video and sound installations, screenings and opportunities to meet artists. Performance-based art also has an important place in the programme. In this context, the body, gesture, movement and the presence of a performer can become essential elements of an artwork. These projects encourage audiences to think about how they experience space and how their own presence influences the artistic encounter.

The associate artist of the 2026 edition is Filipe Vilas-Boas, whose work sits at the crossroads of digital art, installation and performance and questions how our everyday use of technology shapes society. His project RE:PUBLIC, a monumental hemispherical sculpture conceived as a public space, is at the heart of this year's Biennale.

The Biennale takes place across several venues in Nice, allowing visitors to experience different artistic environments during the same trip. Some spaces may be suited to immersive visual experiences, while others focus on documentary approaches, architecture or the relationship between image and performance. This variety makes the event appealing to visitors who enjoy discovering art in different forms rather than following a single exhibition format.

OVNi can also provide a reason to explore cultural spaces that are not always included in a standard tourist itinerary. Instead of spending the entire day in one museum, visitors can build a route connecting several venues and experience different parts of the city along the way.

It is worth distinguishing video projections from dedicated light shows. Although moving-image installations may use light and projection as part of their artistic language, a separate large-scale light show has not been confirmed in the published programme. Visitors should therefore focus on the announced exhibitions and screenings rather than assume that a specific outdoor light spectacle will take place.

Several exhibitions and events have already been listed in the published programme. Some projects begin before the official opening, while others continue beyond November, giving visitors more flexibility when choosing travel dates.

These events offer a snapshot of the Biennale's different approaches to moving images, from video and sound installations to documentary work, performance and architecture. The exhibitions have different running periods, so visitors can choose a programme that suits the length of their stay.

One of OVNi's most distinctive formats takes video art out of galleries and into hotel rooms. For the 2026 edition, 60 rooms in Nice hotels are transformed into staged installations chosen by the invited artists. On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, from 2 pm to 7 pm, all participating hotels open their doors to the public, so you can walk in and move from room to room.

The participating hotels include the West End (Cosmopolis Prize), Le Grimaldi (OVNi Sud Emergences Prize, with 10 solo shows), Le Deck (recent graduates of the Pavillon Bosio art school in Monaco), Le Royal (in partnership with Le Fresnoy, the national studio for contemporary arts) and the WindsoR, which hosts the exhibition Seeing Song, curated by Nathalie Amae, as well as a showcase of the Ukrainian art scene. The hotels are in central Nice, close to the Promenade des Anglais, so the circuit is easy to do on foot.

Beyond Le 109, the programme extends to other cultural spaces in Nice: the Villa Arson art centre (a solo installation), La Gaya Scienza (a solo show by Shaun Gladwell) and the Grotte du Lazaret, a prehistoric cave site where Frank Dufour presents Le Vaisseau / The Vessel. OVNi also reaches beyond the city, with exhibitions at the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, the Espace de l'Art Concret in Mouans-Sartoux and La Napoule Art Foundation in Mandelieu-La Napoule. Dates for some of these venues are still being published, so check the official programme before you go.

If you are visiting Nice for just one day, select a small number of venues that match your interests. The official opening on 13 November could be a good starting point for a trip centred on the Biennale. However, individual exhibitions deserve enough time to be experienced properly, so it is better to choose a manageable route than try to see everything in a few hours.

For a weekend visit, consider dividing your programme between several cultural spaces. You could begin at Le 109, where multiple projects are presented, and then set aside time for the exhibitions at the Forum d’Urbanisme et d’Architecture and the Archives – Palais de Marbre. Allow time for travel between venues and remember that each location has its own opening hours. Events involving artists may also take place at specific times rather than throughout the day.

The weekend of 28–29 November is the richest moment to visit: the hotel rooms are open to the public, the exhibitions at Le 109 are running, and Saturday 28 November is your last chance to see Monstre Pente.

December is another good option for visitors who cannot attend the opening weekend. Tant de corps qui poussent en nous and État des lieux des forces en présence continue into December, while Lavaforming remains on display until January 2027. This extended schedule means that the Biennale can be part of a late-autumn or early-winter visit to the French Riviera.

It is useful to check practical details before setting out, particularly if you want to attend a specific artist meeting or visit several venues in one day. Opening times, admission arrangements and registration requirements may differ between locations. For more ideas, browse events in Nice to combine contemporary art with concerts, theatre and other activities around the city, and if you are staying a night or two, see where to stay on the French Riviera.

The OVNi Biennale offers a different way to experience Nice. Rather than focusing exclusively on traditional museum collections, it brings together moving images, sound, architecture and performance to explore how contemporary art can communicate ideas and create experiences. Its distribution across several cultural venues also makes it possible to combine exhibitions with a broader exploration of the city.

The programme's extended dates are another advantage. Several projects continue through December, and Lavaforming remains available into January 2027. This flexibility makes it easier to plan a visit around your own schedule rather than travelling solely for the opening weekend.

Whether you are an enthusiastic contemporary art follower or simply curious about experimental visual culture, OVNi offers an opportunity to discover new artistic perspectives while exploring the French Riviera. The announced exhibitions provide a varied introduction to video art, sound, performance and architecture, making the Biennale a worthwhile addition to an autumn itinerary in Nice.

The programme is still being updated, so check the official OVNi website before your visit for the latest details on opening times and admission. With a little planning, you can build a cultural itinerary that combines several exhibitions with the city's wider arts scene and enjoy a different side of Nice during the autumn and early winter season.

From Friday 13 November to Monday 14 December 2026. The opening evening is on 13 November from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Grande Halle of Le 109, and some exhibitions run longer: Lavaforming stays open until 8 January 2027.

Mainly at Le 109 (89 route de Turin) and at other venues across Nice, including the Forum d’Urbanisme et d’Architecture, the Archives – Palais de Marbre, Villa Arson and several city-centre hotels, with partner exhibitions from Mouans-Sartoux to Monaco.

The Côte d'Azur tourist office lists the Biennale as free, and Monstre Pente at La Station is free to enter. Some talks, workshops or special events may require booking, so check each venue before you go.

On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026, from 2 pm to 7 pm, when all participating hotels are open to the public.