The Bund hosts Art on the Bund until 22 November
Published on 11/07/2026 at 12:50 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSArt, architecture and access
- Shanghai's 2026 art programme continues across The Bund until 22 November.
- Panda Holiday brings installations and exhibitions to historic waterfront buildings.
- The Bund is a 1.5-kilometre protected district beside the Huangpu River.
- More than 30 art institutions contribute to the programme in Shanghai.
The Bund is hosting Art on the Bund 2026, an international art festival that continues until 22 November 2026 along Shanghai's historic waterfront. The programme links galleries, public spaces and historic buildings through exhibitions in painting, sculpture and installation.
The event is taking place in central Shanghai's Huangpu district, where the waterfront promenade meets a dense group of preserved commercial buildings. Visitors can still encounter the festival during November 2026, including its Terrace Art Season and Panda Holiday installations.
Art on the Bund links galleries with Shanghai's waterfront
Art on the Bund 2026 brings together more than 30 art institutions for over 50 exhibitions and events. The Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism says the programme covers painting, sculpture and installation across the Bund area.
The official programme includes Glasstress: The Flowing Carnival of Venice, a collateral event of the Venice Biennale, and a retrospective of Alberto Giacometti presented with works from the Giacometti Foundation. The festival announcement states that the wider programme runs until 22 November 2026.
A major strand is the Terrace Art Season, presented under the theme Panda Holiday. It extends art into riverside terrace spaces, with panda installations at the Fosun Foundation and other venues around the waterfront. The arrangement connects the festival's artworks with views of the Huangpu River and Shanghai's changing skyline.
Historic buildings frame the 2026 art programme
The Bund is a 1.5-kilometre-long waterfront area and a protected historical district in central Shanghai. The river lies to the east, while 52 Gothic and Baroque-style buildings stand along the western side.
Those buildings once housed financial institutions and trading companies, and the district is now described by Shanghai's government as an outdoor museum of international architecture. That setting gives the 2026 festival a specific relationship with the place: exhibitions are distributed through an area whose architectural character is itself part of the visitor experience.
The festival also reaches beyond a single gallery. The official city programme identifies more than 30 participating art institutions and lists projects ranging from contemporary installations to a Giacometti retrospective. Shanghai's arts programme places Art on the Bund in Huangpu district and confirms its September-to-November season.
Visiting The Bund: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Art on the Bund 2026 continues until 22 November 2026 across venues and public spaces in the Bund area of Huangpu district.
- The festival combines exhibitions and installations with the Terrace Art Season, including panda artworks at the Fosun Foundation and other waterfront terraces.
- The Bund is a 1.5-kilometre waterfront district beside the Huangpu River, with a long riverside walkway and a group of 52 historic buildings.
- The area is in central Shanghai and can be reached using the city's public transport network, with East Nanjing Road serving as a principal access point for the waterfront.
- China's official language is Mandarin Chinese and its national currency is the renminbi.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about The Bund
When does Art on the Bund 2026 take place at The Bund?
The festival continues until 22 November 2026, with exhibitions and installations distributed across the Bund area in Shanghai.
What is The Bund?
The Bund is a 1.5-kilometre waterfront area and protected historical district in central Shanghai, known for its preserved Gothic and Baroque-style buildings.
Where is The Bund and how do you get there?
The district lies beside the Huangpu River in central Shanghai. East Nanjing Road is a principal access point for the waterfront and is connected to the city's public transport network.
