Marina Abramović Premieres “Balkan Erotic Epic” in Manchester: A Groundbreaking Journey Through Ritual, Eroticism, and Performance Art
Renowned performance artist Marina Abramović is set to unveil her most ambitious production yet, “Balkan Erotic Epic”, in Manchester this October 2025. Known globally for her pioneering contributions to contemporary and performance art, Abramović returns with a large-scale immersive performance that merges ancestral Balkan traditions with contemporary questions of body, sexuality, and spiritual identity.
The premiere will mark the first major presentation of the work, which brings together a cast of 70 performers across 13 dramatic scenes, each inspired by historical sexual and fertility rituals from the Balkans. The production invites audiences to move freely through the space, experiencing each scene from their own unique perspective. With no fixed seating, the work emphasizes embodied participation, further dissolving the boundary between performer and viewer — a hallmark of Abramović’s practice. 
According to the artist, “Balkan Erotic Epic” is rooted in her long-standing exploration of Slavic folklore and cultural memory. Drawing on years of archival research and personal ethnographic study, the project seeks to reclaim the deep erotic wisdom of pre-Christian Balkan cultures — a wisdom often silenced or erased in modern discourse. “These rituals weren’t pornographic,” Abramović has said in interviews. “They were spiritual, powerful, deeply human. I want to bring that lost energy back.”
The show’s Manchester debut is produced in collaboration with major UK cultural institutions and is expected to attract global audiences and art professionals. The immersive nature of the work, combined with its controversial and symbolic subject matter, positions it as one of the most talked-about art events of 2025.
Following its UK premiere, “Balkan Erotic Epic” will embark on an international tour, with confirmed stops in Barcelona, Berlin, New York, and Hong Kong. Each location will host a unique version of the performance, tailored to its architectural and cultural context, further enhancing the global impact and cross-cultural relevance of the work.
This latest project cements Marina Abramović’s position as a visionary leader in contemporary performance art, continuing her legacy of provocative, transformative, and deeply personal creations. With themes of sexuality, heritage, ritual, and feminine power at its core, “Balkan Erotic Epic” offers both a confrontation and celebration — challenging taboos while reconnecting audiences with the primal forces that shape human experience.
As the art world looks toward the close of 2025, this ambitious new work is poised to become a central focus of critical attention and public discussion. For art lovers, cultural theorists, and fans of avant-garde performance, “Balkan Erotic Epic” is not just a must-see — it’s a moment of art history in the making.
For more updates on Marina Abramović, performance art news, and international art events, follow ArtInfoLand Magazine and stay tuned as we bring you exclusive coverage from the global tour.
