Mexico City, Guest of Honor at the Bogotá International Biennial of Art and the City

The Mayor of Mexico City, Clara Brugada Molina, and the Mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, announce this important news in the framework of the first Bogotá International Biennial of Art and the City, BOG25, which will take place from September 20 to November 9.

Both cities signed a memorandum of understanding to develop artistic activities and promote joint agendas that strengthen the ties of cooperation between Bogotá and Mexico City. Mexico City's programming at BOG25 will be announced next August.

Bogotá and Mexico City also agreed to promote Ibero-American Cultural Action, an initiative of the Bogotá Secretariat of Culture, Recreation, and Sports that seeks to strengthen cultural ties between Ibero-American cities through research strategies, in addition to collaborating in the training and exchange of experiences that promote artistic and cultural expressions between both cities.

BOG25 will feature more than 100 national and international artists from 12 countries, as well as art exhibitions, exhibits, and installations in 18 conventional and unconventional public spaces.

Mexico City was announced by the Mayor's Office of Bogotá as the guest of honor at the International Biennial of Art and City, BOG25, which will take place in the Colombian capital from September 20 to November 9 of this year.

Both cities, united by close historical and emotional ties, signed a memorandum of understanding that promotes artistic and cultural interaction. In view of BOG25, this alliance focuses especially on projects that will redefine public space, transforming the urban landscape and promoting reflection on the relationship between art and citizens.

“I am grateful that Mexico City has been recognized as a partner city and special guest at the first edition of the Bogotá International Biennial of Art and City, where we will bring an artistic proposal born from our roots, our traditions, and the ancient identity of our people,” stated Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada.

For his part, Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán stated:

“Thanks to the efforts of the Bogotá Secretariat of Culture, Recreation, and Sports, this memorandum of understanding will promote various artistic and cultural exchange activities, including heritage, the publishing industry, gastronomy, and the Mexico City Art Circle, where Bogotá will also be present. The first International Biennial of Art and City, BOG25, will be the stage to discover new ways of conversing and meeting in public spaces, as well as strengthening our ties with Mexico.”

Through the memorandum, an inter-institutional curatorial committee was formed, led by the Culture Secretariats of both cities and guided by criteria such as a focus on community work in public spaces, the quality of proposals that include durable and weather-resistant materials, artistic trajectory, and relevance to the curatorial framework of BOG25—entitled "Bogotá, Essays on Happiness"—as well as the commemoration of the 700th anniversary of the founding of Mexico-Tenochtitlan. The joint programming of Mexico City and Bogotá will be announced in August.

In addition to the artistic agenda to be developed within the framework of the Biennial, the memorandum of understanding indicates that both cities will work together on other activities, such as Ibero-American Cultural Action, an initiative of the Bogotá Secretariat of Culture, Recreation, and Sports that seeks to strengthen cultural ties between Ibero-American cities through research strategies. Additionally, Bogotá and Mexico City will collaborate on training and exchange of experiences and will promote the artistic and cultural expressions of both cities.

“We are very proud of Mexico City's participation as guest of honor in this first edition of BOG25, as we share a close artistic and cultural relationship marked by exchanges of ideas, mutual influences, and the constant desire to forge our own national identities within a common Latin American context. Let us not forget that, since the mid-20th century, both cities have played an active role in Latin American cultural diplomacy, leading various projects, festivals, and exchange programs. The presence of Mexican artists will mark a milestone in this International Biennial of Art and the City, which will host a striking exhibition of Mexican art in its public spaces, both conventional and unconventional, for the enjoyment of all citizens,” says Santiago Trujillo Escobar, Secretary of Culture, Recreation, and Sports of Bogotá.

For her part, Mexico City's Secretary of Culture, Ana Francis López Bayghen Patiño, stated that "the Biennial is a great opportunity for Mexico City artists to share their talent and contribute to building collaborative networks with the Latin American community. For this cultural capital of Transformation, it is significant to be part of this project, which is built collectively and which, like us, promotes the reappropriation of public spaces, the territorialization and diversification of art, and efforts to guarantee citizens' cultural rights."

About the Bogotá International Biennial of Art and City, BOG25

BOG25 is organized by the Mayor's Office of Bogotá, through the Secretariat of Culture, Recreation, and Sports, and will take place from September 20 to November 9, 2025. It seeks, through art, to redefine the urban imagination of those who live in the city and the tourists who visit it. Thanks to the Biennial, Bogotá is on par with other cities that host important art biennials, such as Venice, São Paulo, and Sydney.

BOG25 is part of a series of world-class events, such as the International Festival of Living Arts (FIAV Bogotá) and the Bogotá International Violin Competition, which place the Colombian capital at a leading position in the global cultural scene.

As part of Bogotá's internationalization strategy through cultural, artistic, and creative processes, BOG25 will be primarily supported by the work of established artists who have participated in relevant exhibitions, both in Colombia and abroad. It will feature more than 100 national and international artists from 12 countries, exhibitions, displays, and art installations in 18 conventional and non-conventional public spaces, and a component dedicated to design and architecture. It will also support and highlight artistic expressions at the neighborhood level in different locations.

Furthermore, BOG25 positions Bogotá as an attractive cultural destination, contributing to the local economy through an influx of domestic and international visitors and increased demand for hotel services, retail, and gastronomy. As has been the case with some of the world's most popular art biennials, BOG25 will consolidate Bogotá as a Latin American benchmark for contemporary art, consolidating the local scene and attracting visitors and foreign investment.

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