Are world exhibitions still meaningful
platforms for presenting ideas, identities, and visions of the future? What
role do they play in shaping architectural discourse and responding to global
challenges? And how do countries and cities position themselves within these
formats today? We will explore these questions with leading experts and
participants from the world’s most significant exhibitions.
With the Biennale Arte 2026 in Venice
currently underway and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Czechoslovak
Pavilion in Venice, we invite you to an evening exploring the role of world
exhibitions today. Organized by the National Gallery Prague and co-curated by
Centre of Architecture and Metropolitan Planning (CAMP), FUTURESEARCH STUDIO
and Italian Cultural Institute in Prague , the event brings together leading
figures from architecture and research to reflect on the continued relevance of
Biennales and EXPOs in the 21st century.
The program will
feature Carlo Ratti, curator of Biennale Architettura 2025, co-author of the
French Pavilion at EXPO 2025, director of the Senseable City Lab at MIT and
professor at Politecnico di Milano. His lecture will be complemented by
presentations of selected projects from Biennale Architettura 2025, including
Biotopia by Winy Maas and Federico Diaz and X-UTOPIA: Vision of the Future by
Jozef Olsavsky from FUTURESEARCH STUDIO. The program will also feature CHYBIK +
KRISTOF studio, the authors of the Czech pavilion at EXPO 2015, offering
insight into the national contribution to the exhibition. And representatives
from the National Gallery Prague will reflect on the legacy of the Czechoslovak
Pavilion in Venice.
The evening
will conclude with a panel discussion addressing the future of world
exhibitions and their potential as platforms for critical reflection, national
representation, and international exchange.
The event will take place at the Trade
Fair Palace on September 18, 2026. The program will be hosted by Jiří Jaroš
from CAMP.
Welcome & Opening
Remarks 18th September 18:00 – 19:30
- Host Introduction: Jiří Jaroš, IPR / CAMP
- Official Welcome:
Radka Neumannová, Director of Strategy and
Planning, National Gallery Prague
Dr.
Marialuisa Pappalardo, Director
of Instituto Italiano di Cultura di Praga)
Introduction: Case Studies,
National Pavilions & Visions – 5 minutes each (max. 5 slides)
- Pavilon Cecoslovacchia 100. National pavilions at Venice Biennale: Radka Neumannová, National gallery Prague
- The Czech Contribution at EXPO 2015: Chybík Kryštof Architects
- X-UTOPIA: Vision of the Future at Biennale Architettura 2025: Jozef Olšavský, FUTURESEARCH STUDIO
- Biotopia at Biennale Architettura 2025: Winy Maas, MVRDV and Federico Diaz
Keynote: Carlo Ratti,
Curator of Biennale Architettura 2025, MIT Senseable City Lab and professor at
Politecnico di Milano
- Short Panel Discussion: Critical reflection on national representation and international exchange.
- Closing Remarks and Q&A
Networking Session
- Informal drinks and exchanges at the Trade Fair Palace.
Admission: free of charge / Duration: ca 90 minutes / Meeting
point: at the Small Hall of the Trade Fair Palace / Reservation at
GoOut.cz
