BoCA 2025 – “Camino Irreal”: Lisbon & Madrid in Dialogue Through Arts
Lisbon is about to be part of something big. The 5th edition of BoCA – Biennial of Contemporary Arts, titled Camino Irreal, returns from 10 September to 26 October 2025, and brings a daring, border-crossing programme that bridges Lisbon and Madrid. Boca Bienal
BoCA 2025 is curated by John Romão, and promises to be the most representative gathering yet of the Iberian contemporary arts scene. Over 25 cultural institutions across both capitals will host events, with performances, visual arts, music, cinema and other artistic expressions. Boca Bienal
What Makes BoCA 2025 Special
- It’s not just about events in buildings—it’s about movement, encounters, resistance, coexistence. BoCA 2025 sees artistic creation and presentation transcending geographic, cultural and political borders. Boca Bienal
- There are specially commissioned works, world premieres and national premieres, projects made for experimentation and for pushing boundaries. Boca Bienal
- It embraces alterity: dialogue with other cultures, with “the other,” with different communities, and different artistic forms. It’s not a neat, polished parade—it is willing to be rough, challenging, transformative. Boca Bienal
Featured Artists & Highlights
Here are some of the standout projects confirmed:
| Project | Type(s) | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analphabet by Alberto Cortés | Theatre | 10–11 Sep | “Ghost romantic” themes, exploring non-normative love, queer identities and ruptured language. Boca Bienal |
| Adilson by Dino D’Santiago | Opera | 12–14 Sep | More than just performance—an act of visibility and resistance through music. Boca Bienal |
| Toda la Luz del Mediodía by Julián Pacomio | Performance | 13–14 Sep | A piece reflecting on transitions, visibility, light and stillness. Boca Bienal |
| The Spirit Lamp by Chrystabell | Music / Cinema / Performance | 10 Oct | A mixed-media gathering of genres. Boca Bienal |
| Ocean Cage by Tianzhuo Chen & Siko Setyanto | Theatre / Performance | 19 Sep | Likely very visually striking and immersive. Boca Bienal |
| Nossas Mãos / Nuestras Manos by Tânia Carvalho & Rocío Guzmán | Concert / Music | 16–17 Oct | Collaboration across borders, languages. Boca Bienal |
…and many more, including dance pieces (Totentanz by Marcos Morau), cinema, concerts, multi-art-form works. Boca Bienal
Venues in Lisbon & What to Expect
Lisbon’s programme will be staged in major cultural anchors, including:
- Teatro do Bairro Alto
- Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea – Museu do Chiado
- Cinemateca Portuguesa
- Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes
- Centro Cultural de Belém
- Teatro Nacional D. Maria II Boca Bienal
Expect variety: from opera to intimate theatre, from powerful performances interrogating identity, to experimental cinema, to music that stretches genres.
Community & Participation
BoCA isn’t just for spectators—it’s for participants and emerging voices:
- BoCA Sub21 is a participatory, experimental artistic creation project for young people aged 16-21, active in both Lisbon and Madrid. Boca Bienal
- Workshops, artistic residencies, and dialogues are part of the programme, offering opportunities for audiences to engage, not just watch. Boca Bienal
Practical Info
- When: 10 September to 26 October 2025 Boca Bienal
- Where: Lisbon & Madrid – multiple locations in each city. Lisbon locations listed above.
- Tickets: Vary by venue and event. Some are paid, others free. Check bocabienal.org for full schedule, prices, tickets. Boca Bienal
Why Go?
This is a chance to:
- Witness new works and world premieres that are pushing the boundaries of art.
- Experience art in unusual juxtapositions—visual, performing, musical all together.
- Be part of the Qué será, el otro, la diferencia—a festival not only about culture but about identity, resistance, place.
- Explore Lisbon through the lens of its cultural institutions and artistic communities.
