The 4th Biennale of Luanda – Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence will take place on the 22nd to the 23rd of October, 2026 in Luanda, Angola, under the theme “Strengthening Water Governance in Africa as a Tool for Conflict Prevention, Mediation and Resolution.”
Organised jointly by UNESCO, the African Union (AU) and the Government of Angola, the Biennale will explore how cooperation and responsible governance of shared water resources can help prevent conflict, foster dialogue and build pathways to peace across the continent. The theme aligns with the AU’s 2026 focus on “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
Most of Africa’s surface water and a significant share of its aquifers are transboundary, making effective water governance and cross-border cooperation critical for peace, stability and sustainable development. The Biennale will examine how shared resource management can serve as a tool for conflict prevention, mediation and resolution, rather than a source of tension.
Angola’s Secretary of State for Social Communication, Nuno Caldas Albino, said the forum aims to promote intergenerational political dialogue on the continent’s water challenges, deepen understanding of water as an instrument for peace, and stimulate transboundary cooperation and water diplomacy. The event will also address the links between water, climate change, migration and internal displacement.
The Biennale of Luanda was created in 2013 as a joint initiative of UNESCO, the AU and the Angolan government to promote violence prevention and conflict resolution through cultural exchange and intergenerational dialogue. The 2026 edition will showcase contemporary art and cultural exchange, fostering creativity, innovation and international artistic dialogue alongside the policy discussions.
By combining cultural programming with high-level policy dialogue, the Biennale seeks to build shared narratives that foster a sense of citizenship and African belonging. The approach reflects the AU’s broader vision of embedding a culture of peace into the continent’s development agenda.
The 2026 Biennale comes at a time when water scarcity, climate pressures and competing demands are increasing the risk of tensions over shared resources. By placing water governance at the centre of the peace agenda, organisers hope to translate dialogue into concrete mechanisms for cooperation, from transboundary water agreements to joint infrastructure and data-sharing initiatives.
For African policymakers, the forum offers a platform to strengthen regional cooperation and develop practical tools for managing shared water resources peacefully. As the continent grapples with the impacts of climate change and growing water demand, the Luanda Biennale aims to demonstrate that cooperation, not conflict, is the path to a secure and prosperous future.
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