Curators announced for U? 2026

Curators U? 2026

In 2026, U? once again opens up space for individuals and collectives who are closely connected to a community to step into a curatorial role. The curators for this year's edition are performance artist and ephemeral practitioner Fai Aldhukair, multidisciplinary artist, curator and researcher Jô Páscoa, and programmer, artist agent and cultural curator Perry Gits.

Fai Aldhukair's work unfolds through walking, score writing, and social choreography. During her MA artistic research, she developed a performative method which she calls "stealing time". Approached as a political tool, it is meant to preserve and create new relationships with space and time. During U?, she presents the first edition of Ephemera: Practices of Preservation. This ongoing project focuses on collectively entering public spaces to rediscover the possibilities that ephemeral art can offer us and the meaning of making art in the present moment.

As a queer person, Jô Páscoa has observed how the term “monster” is used to dehumanize people for crossing imposed thresholds of gender and sexuality. But they believe this harmful framing could be redrawn, even by the monsters themselves. Their curation at U? aims to reclaim and re-signify the label of "monster" alongside their fellow creatures. To do so, Jô summons the tender monsters of Utrecht and neighboring swamps for an evening of delightful mischief—expect a gathering with banquets, performances and music by queer artists that reclaim the unordinary.

Drawing on his background as a multi-award-winning theater maker and artist, Perry Gits brings a multidisciplinary perspective to his work, which centers on artistic experimentation and community-building. For U?, he curates a program that fosters artistic development, sonic exploration, and underrepresented voices within ambient, live and experimental music—noting that more left-field and experimental spaces in the Netherlands often lack diversity. Alongside international artists, the program celebrates the plurality of Black sonic expression and the richness of diverse creative perspectives.

Location partners

On Saturday, 7 November, U? presents a festival playground in Utrecht's Cartesius area. Here, the festival collaborates with several venues, such as Boot 122, dB’s, De Nijverheid, Keen Coffee Roastery, Hof van Cartesius, Warmoes, De Havenloods and Studio de Kiemkamer. In collaboration with the U?'s curators, venue partners, various artists and collectives from Utrecht and beyond, the festival presents a broad spectrum of programs.

On Sunday, 8 November, U? presents several events throughout the city. These events are collaborations with Utrecht based organizations—from grassroots collectives to cultural institutions.

Artwork

This year's artwork is created by Tinka Stavenuiter a Dutch illustrator, based in Utrecht. She makes fine art prints, postcards, event posters and visual brand identities. All her work is made digitally, with an emphasis on risograph and gradient effects.

Photography Jô Páscoa by Dimis and T-shirt design by Iyaku & DnDykes