Entitled ‘To pass from one dream to another’, this edition's theme draws heavily on a distinctive feature of Lyon’s architecture: the traboules. Just as these passageways connect one street to another, the organisers aim to create links between the artworks.

This edition will also focus on Oceania, the continent of origin of the Biennale's curator, Catherine Nichols. One third of the artists featured at the Biennale will be from Australia, New Zealand, and the surrounding islands. Furthermore, this edition gives pride of place to women, who make up the majority of the invited artists.

Taking inspiration from the 'Principles of Poetic Economy' conceptualised by artist Robert Filliou, the Biennale's curator has chosen to explore three sub-themes: the existential at the Mac, the industrial at the Grandes Locos and the relational at the Musée des Tissus.