Belgian Pavilion 2026: IT NEVER SSST

The Flemish Community of Belgium is pleased to announce IT NEVER SSST by artist Miet Warlop, curated by Caroline Dumalin, as the project selected to represent Belgium at the 61st Venice Biennale.

By selecting Miet Warlop, the Flemish Community seeks to showcase the artist’s 20-year career, while also recognizing Belgium’s strong tradition of performance and interdisciplinarity. This presentation marks the first time that performance art will take centre stage in the Belgian pavilion. In Venice, Warlop will present the exhibition-performance IT NEVER SSST . Performers will regularly activate the installation through physical and sculptural rituals. The title refers to the turbulent time in which they keep moving forward, doing anything to avoid a standstill. Warlop’s work explores the urgency of human connection in an increasingly disorienting world, transforming the Belgian Pavilion into a space of energy, tension, and shared emotional experience. Following an open call issued by the Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez, the selection was made by an independent jury of arts experts convened by the Flemish Community. The jury consisted of Heidi Ballet, Bert De Leenheer, Zoë Gray, Laura Hanssens, Ivo Provoost, Stéphane Symons, Pieternel Vermoortel, and Bert Schreurs (chairman). The jury report reads: “Miet Warlop is one of the most interesting artists working today. Her exciting work has earned her a meaningful place in the landscape of contemporary art. Her proposal brings together several storylines (the competitive drive in our frenzied society, language, rituals, the bending of rules, ...) in an exciting dramaturgy. The rock ‘n’ roll spirit of this high-octane performance captures the chaotic state of the world in a real and visceral way.” Following Venice, the exhibition-performance will travel to the newly opened Kanal-Centre Pompidou. Kasia Redzisz, Artistic Director of Kanal-Centre Pompidou says: “I am immensely proud that Kanal is supporting Miet Warlop and the Belgian Pavilion for the 2026 Venice Biennale. Her proposal embodies the experimental spirit and bold thinking that is essential to today’s contemporary art. We cannot wait to see the impact of the work at the Biennale and look forward to hosting the project in Brussels in 2027.”

What to expect:
Installation