Dubai’s arts and culture scene comes alive this weekend

Dive into the Emirates LitFest for author talks and interactive poetry breakfasts, wander immersive installations at Quoz Arts Fest and Sikka Art & Design Festival, and round off with Reel Palestine films or the exquisite Birds of Verse exhibition at L’ÉCOLE.

So much to see and do…

Sikka Art & Design Festival

Coinciding with the weekend, Sikka returns to the Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood. Under the theme Imagining Dubai: Identities of the Future, this open-air festival invites you to wander through 16 historic houses repurposed as galleries. It is a sensory experience where contemporary Emirati installations and digital art are tucked away in traditional wind-tower alleyways.

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

Now in its 18th edition at InterContinental Dubai Festival City, the festival continues to draw audiences from across the region. This weekend features international stars like crime novelist Ruth Ware and the high-energy science sessions of TikTok’s Big Manny. Beyond the author talks, the festival functions as a sprawling cultural village where you can engage in workshops on the craft of translation or join a Poet’s Table breakfast for an interactive morning of verse.

Quoz Arts Fest 2026

Alserkal Avenue transforms into a two-day creative playground on January 24 and 25. The centrepiece this year is TAPE Dubai by the collective Numen/For Use, a massive, cocoon-like structure made of transparent tape that visitors can physically crawl through within the Concrete gallery. The lanes will vibrate with live performances by Palestinian hip-hop pioneers DAM and the haunting melodies of Yasmine Hamdan.

Reel Palestine at Cinema Akil

As part of the Quoz festivities, Cinema Akil hosts the Reel Palestine film festival. At Warehouse 67, you can immerse yourself in independent cinema exploring themes of heritage and resilience, followed by a curated souk featuring handcrafted design objects and traditional crafts.

L'ÉCOLE Middle East Birds of Verse

For those seeking a more contemplative atmosphere, L'ÉCOLE Middle East in Dubai Design District presents Birds of Verse. This exhibition explores the dialogue between 19th-century Western jewellery and Islamic art, showcasing more than 150 exceptional pieces that examine how nature and geometry have crossed cultural borders through the centuries.