The exhibition is set across Kochi, with shows being held in existing galleries, halls, and site-specific installations in public spaces, heritage buildings and vacant structures.

Indian and international artists exhibit artwork across a variety of mediums, including film, installation, painting, sculpture, new media and performance art.

Alongside the exhibition, the Biennale offers a program of talks, seminars, screenings, music, workshops and educational activities for schoolchildren and students.

Jacob, R. K. Krishna Kumar of Tata group, Jayanta Matthews of Malayala Manorama and the businessman Shibu Mathai have all donated.

[11] Sudarshan was declared curator of the 2016 Kochi-Muzirs Biennale by the Minister for Culture, K. C. Joseph, at an event in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, on 15 July 2015.

The Committee comprised artists Amar Kanwar, Atul Dodiya, Bharti Kher and Jyothi Basu, art critic Ranjit Hoskote, patron Kiran Nadar, gallerist Shireen Gandhy along with KBF trustees Sunil V, Riyas Komu and Bose Krishnamachari.

[16] Titled "In our Veins Flow Ink and Fire", the first announced artist list involved 25 participating artists and collectives, featuring names such as Arpita Singh, Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency, Iman Issa, Joan Jonas, Melati Suryodarmo, Samson Young, Slavs and Tatars, Thảo Nguyên Phan and Yinka Shonibare.

"[19] 53 artists signed an open letter to the Biennale Foundation detailing the organisational shortcomings and exhorting the Board and Advisors to make structural changes later.

[6] According to Karthyayani G. Menon, director of Jehangir Art Gallery—Mumbai, Baroda or Kolkata had not been at the forefront of artists—she hoped that the biennale would make a change to that situation.

[21] Many eminent artists in Kerala raised concern over the alleged lack of transparency in the way the funds were spent by the Kochi-Muziris Biennale foundation.

[22] During the 2016 demonetization of the Indian economy, during the official opening, the government of Kerala promised $1.1 million in funding and support for a permanent venue for the biennale.