Ruhrtriennale 2026 - additional performances for Marina Abramović's Balkan Erotic Epic

Following the sold-out success of the six scheduled performances of Marina Abramović’s Balkan Erotic Epic, Ruhrtriennale is pleased to announce two additional dates on 10 and 11 September 2026. Tickets available at www.ruhrtriennale.de/en.

Marina Abramović is one of the world's most important performance artists. The four-hour version of her latest work will be presented at the Kraftzentrale in Duisburg starting September 3, 2026. Balkan Erotic Epic combines live performances with cinematic and sculptural installations, exploring the connection between eroticism, spirituality, and folk traditions through ritualized dance, song, and embodied practices.

The production is brought to life by around 40 performers – including dancers, musicians, and singers – and unfolds in thirteen scenes, each based on rituals, legends, and beliefs from the Balkan region. The audience is invited to move freely through the space – with spontaneous encounters that interrupt the action, including intimate performances, feverish dances, and haunting songs.

Balkan Erotic Epic draws on folklore and traditions handed down from Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and the culture of the Roma, focusing on eroticism – not as provocation, but as a vital spiritual force that connects life and death.

This extraordinary new work marks an important moment in Marina Abramović's career and offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience the full power of her creative vision in an ambitious, immersive performance.

Balkan Erotic Epic has been commissioned by Ruhrtriennale, Factory International, Berliner Festspiele, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Park Avenue Armory, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and WestK. It is produced by Factory International. Following the world premiere in Manchester, Factory International will present Balkan Erotic Epic to international co-commissioners, starting in Barcelona in January 2026.