The NGV Triennial opens with two site-specific works in the Forecourt and Waterwall: Angelina Karadada Boona reimagines Wandjina figures on the waterwall, and Najla El Zein debuts a major outdoor limestone sculpture designed for public gathering.

These works anchor the inaugural space, with Karadada Boona’s Wandjina-inspired installation leading the Forecourt and El Zein’s seating-oriented sculpture greeting visitors at the forecourt before the gallery entrance.

The edition features 25 world-premiere commissions, exploring themes of transformation across material, cultural, technological, personal, and societal forms.

Among the highlights is Jenny Holzer’s WTF installation, a suspended LED piece that juxtaposes conspiracy posts with Donald Trump’s first-term tweets to illuminate digital discourse.

A dedicated children's exhibition, Squish, Twist, Fizz by Mika Rottenberg, includes a Cosmic Generator film and an interactive, vibrant display for younger audiences.

Inside, a large-scale interactive chess set by Louise Paramor sits beneath the Great Hall’s stained-glass ceiling, inviting public play and competition.

In addition to the chess pieces, Paramor’s 32 life-sized figures activate a participatory experience for visitors.

NGV Director Tony Ellwood describes the Triennial as a reflection on rapid cultural and life changes, using art and design to explore a world in flux and our place within it.

The Triennial aims to mirror global shifts through contemporary art and design, inviting visitors to reconsider their world.

As with previous editions, additional gallery activations will be announced closer to the opening date.

Other notable participants include Kresiah Mukwazhi and Chinar Farooqui in textile works, along with Ocean Vuong, Frida Escobedo, Christine Sun Kim, and Christian Thompson.

The event is a free public program presented by the National Gallery of Victoria and runs across multiple spaces within NGV International.