Igor Zabel Award 2026
The Igor Zabel Award for Culture and Theory honours outstanding achievements in the field of visual arts that demonstrate visionary thinking and lasting cultural impact. The award recognises the exceptional accomplishments of curators, art historians, theorists, and art writers whose work supports, develops, or investigates visual arts in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. Rooted in this region, the award aims to foster its global relevance, encourage transregional dialogue, and inspire broader cultural engagement.
Named in honour of the distinguished Slovenian curator and art historian Igor Zabel (1958–2005), the award has been conferred biennially since 2008 in cooperation with the initiator of the award, ERSTE Foundation (Vienna), and the Igor Zabel Association (Ljubljana). This year’s award ceremony will take place at the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Friday, 27 November. The ceremony will be accompanied by a supporting programme on 26 and 27 November. Follow us to stay updated – subscribe to our newsletter!
26. 11.
15:00–16:30 Lili Novy hall, Cankarjev dom
Conversations
Working Across Uncertain Grounds
Contributors ⁄ Tania Arcimovich, Octavian Esanu, and Alona Karavai
Moderators ⁄ Pia Brezavšček, Jakub Gawkowski, and Vasif Kortun
18:00–19:30 Slovenian Cinematheque
Screening
Grounded Sun ⁄ Relations
A selection of avant-garde and experimental films and videos from the Kontakt Collection, the Slovenian Cinematheque Film Collection, and DIVA Station – Digital Video Archive
Curators ⁄ Aleksei Borisionok and Peter Cerovšek
27. 11.
10:00–12:30 Švicarija, MGLC Tivoli
Seminar
Exhibiting Visual Art in Slovenia
Contributors ⁄ Beti Žerovc, Zdenka Badovinac, Božidar Zrinski, and Dušan Dovč
10:00–12:30 Cukrarna Gallery
Guided tour
Presentation of the Cukrarna Gallery & guided tour of the exhibitions untranquil now and Špela Petrič: Eating Back
15:00–17:00 Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (+MSUM)
Guided tour
Guided tour of the exhibition The End by the curator Vladimir Vidmar
19:00–21:00 Museum of Modern Art (MG+)
Award Ceremony
19:00 ⁄ Doors open & museum visit
20:00–21:00 ⁄ Presentation of the Award and Grant recipients, followed by a conversation with the Laureate