Perform!

Traditionally, Perform! takes as its point of departure a historically groundbreaking performance. ›Walking on a Wall‹ (1971) by Trisha Brown (1936—2017) is being restaged in close collaboration with the Trisha Brown Dance Company and presented on the exterior glass façade of Neue Nationalgalerie. From 9—13 SEP 2026, the work will be performed daily on the museum's terrace.

With ›Instrucciones para existir‹, presented on 11 and 13 SEP 2026, Berlin-based artist Kiani del Valle unveils a new site-specific work developed especially for Neue Nationalgalerie. In her practice, del Valle combines performance with stunt work, placing the body in a direct relationship with the surrounding architecture. Responding to Mies van der Rohe's iconic building, ›Instrucciones para existir‹ can also be understood as a contemporary homage to Trisha Brown's pioneering artistic practice.

On Sunday, 13 SEP 2026, Perform! will be complemented by additional performances by further contemporary artists throughout the day.

Over the past four years, Neue Nationalgalerie has presented the performance festival Perform! as part of Berlin Art Week. Building on the historical positions of Simone Forti (2022), Yoko Ono (2023), Yvonne Rainer (2024) and Joan Jonas (2025), each edition has also featured contemporary contributions by artists including Göksu Kunak, Miles Greenberg, Enad Marouf, Bendik Giske, Constantin Hartenstein, Billy Bultheel, Isaac Chong Wai and Corey Scott-Gilbert (vAL).

Perform! is curated by Klaus Biesenbach, Director of Neue Nationalgalerie, with Lisa Botti, Curator at Neue Nationalgalerie, and Gregor Quack, Volkswagen Group Curator.

The American Academy in Berlin is the partner of Perform! 2026.