[1] MIBYA was first held in 2008 in response to rising interest from artists, curators and critics following the festival of young art, "Qui Vive?"
"The project has acquired new status thanks to growing interest from young artists, curators, and critics.
[8] More than 100 artists and art groups from Russia and 33 countries (from Japan to Mexico and Canada) participated in the main exhibition of this edition.
Other strategic exhibitions that were part of the programme included "Basic Forms" at Stella Art Foundation;[9] and "Crossing Boundaries" at Winzavod Contemporary Art Center, curated by Mexican curator Claudia Arozqueta.
The founders of the biennale are Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Moscow Department of Culture, the National Centre for Contemporary Arts (NCCA), and the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA).