As Dubai’s cultural calendar prepares for one of its biggest annual events, Art Dubai returns with a special edition celebrating the fair’s 20th anniversary. Taking place at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai from 15 to 17 May 2026, this year’s edition feels slightly different - more collaborative and community-focused.
Presented in partnership with A.R.M. Holding and with Dubai Culture as a Strategic Partner, the fair will bring together galleries, artists, collectors and institutions from the region and internationally. Alongside gallery presentations, visitors can expect performances, installations, talks, screenings and public programs across the site.
Around 75 presentations will take place across the fair, spanning contemporary, modern and digital practices, with a strong focus on the Middle East and surrounding regions. The atmosphere this year feels intentionally more curated and conversational, encouraging visitors to slow down, spend time with the work and engage more deeply with artists and galleries.
In response to the challenges facing galleries globally, Art Dubai has introduced a new risk-sharing model, meaning booth costs are linked to commercial success. It’s a move that feels particularly aligned with the fair’s long-standing support of independent galleries and emerging voices, while reinforcing Dubai’s growing role as a global cultural hub.
One of the biggest highlights for 2026 is the expanded institutional partner programme, developed alongside some of the UAE’s leading cultural organisations, including Alserkal Avenue, Art Jameel, Barjeel Art Foundation, Dubai Collection and Sharjah Art Foundation. Together, these collaborations will bring a stronger public and educational dimension to this year’s fair.
Among the standout projects is Made Forward, a major presentation from Dubai Collection, alongside an exhibition of modern Arab art from Barjeel Art Foundation. The fair will also host the 20th edition of the Global Art Forum, titled Before and After Everything, commissioned by Shumon Basar and known for bringing together leading voices from art, design, technology and culture.
Visitors will discover performances, site-specific installations, moving image screenings and large-scale commissions integrated throughout the fair. Artists participating in this year’s programme include Hashel Al Lamki, Kevork Mourad, Yaw Owusu and Sudarshan Shetty, among others. Daily talks, screenings and live activations will unfold across the site, creating a more immersive experience that extends beyond the traditional art fair format.
Another major talking point this year is accessibility. In a move designed to encourage wider public engagement, entry to Art Dubai 2026 will be free for all visitors, opening the doors to students, young creatives, first-time visitors and wider communities across the city.
This year’s gallery programme brings together a mix of regional favourites, long-standing exhibitors and first-time participants joining the fair for the first time. Many of the galleries have played a major role in shaping Dubai’s art scene over the past two decades, while others continue to introduce new artistic voices from across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and beyond.
Visitors can expect presentations from galleries deeply connected to the region’s cultural landscape, alongside international exhibitors who continue to bridge global and regional conversations.
Artist Lana Khayat's stand with Hafez Gallery explores the intersection of textile, calligraphy, nature and abstraction, informed by the landscapes of the United Arab Emirates and Spain. By combining botanical forms, Arabic and Tifinagh script and stitched elements, she creates richly textured works that examine language, landscape, resilience, and femininity. Rooted in her Lebanese heritage and artistic lineage, her work is both deeply personal and universal.
“My art is a dialogue between worlds,” says Khayat. “A bridge where nature, heritage, and
abstraction converge to celebrate the strength and resilience of women. This presentation at Art Dubai is an important moment to bring this conversation to an international audience.”
Ayyam Gallery representing Tammam Azzam is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice focuses on constructing and deconstructing composition through layered media.
What started as an exploration of texture has turned into a sustained engagement with fragmented, destroyed landscapes that reflect the war-torn environment of his homeland. Responding to changing urban, environmental and geopolitical conditions, his work continually evolves, examining the tension and interaction between materials and the changing visual identity of a place.
The fair’s contemporary presentations are expected to span painting, sculpture, installation and digital media, while modern works will offer insight into important artistic movements from across the Arab world and neighbouring regions. Art Dubai’s digital section will also continue to explore the intersection between art and technology, reflecting the fair’s ongoing interest in future-facing creative practices.
Alongside established names, this year’s programme will spotlight emerging artists and younger galleries pushing new ideas and perspectives. The result is a fair that feels less focused on spectacle and more rooted in conversation, discovery and exchange.
Over the years, the fair has grown alongside Dubai’s evolving cultural scene, becoming not only a marketplace but also a platform for dialogue, collaboration and long-term creative development.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector, creative professional or simply curious to explore, Art Dubai 2026 promises a thoughtful, engaging and community-driven experience.
Visit: artdubai.ae
Hayley is passionate about everything 90s, from art and fashion to music. Her love for glossy, artful coffee table books started early during her days in book publishing and has only grown since. She collects luxury magazines from around the world, enjoys exploring creative workshops around the city, and always chases dinners with a view, preferably by the beach.
