Prague Quadrennial

Prague Quadrennial (PQ) is the largest international event in the field of scenography, performance design and performance space. PQ is initiated by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and organized by the Czech Cultural Institute. PQ aims to create opportunities for the presentation of contemporary scenography and performance design, to map and support innovative work in this field, and to provide an inclusive space for dialogue between professionals, students, and the wider public. The Prague Quadrennial was founded in 1967 in Prague and has been held every four years without interruption. At each of its editions, participants from an expanding number of countries and regions, often exceeding 80, gather in Prague to present their work in the field of performance design and space. Although the origins of PQ can be traced back to the São Paulo Art Biennial in Brazil, today PQ combines elements of both an exhibition and a live arts festival, and its programme typically includes hundreds of exhibitions, installations, performances, workshops, and professional discussions. As a festival event held every four years, PQ consists of several programme sections, both competitive and non-competitive. Some of them, such as the traditional Exhibition of Countries and Regions and the Student Exhibition, are curated by representatives of the participating countries and regions, while other programme sections are prepared by the international PQ curatorial team. Each edition of PQ is unique, and its form grows out of the vision of the artistic leadership. In between its editions, PQ functions as a continuous platform that creates opportunities for international exchange in the field of scenography through special projects, artist residencies, symposia, and publications. The 16th edition of the Prague Quadrennial will take place in June 2027.