New dynamic art fairs are popping up across the region with each passing year.
Fortunately for us, we are now spoiled for choice with places to connect with fellow creatives, discover new artists, add to our own collections and find fresh ideas and inspiration.
From dramatic desert festivals to enormous, glamorous events starring hundreds of global galleries, these are just some of the many exciting gatherings coming up on the Gulf’s vibrant art calendar.
Get them penned into your diary now...
Scattered with spectacular rock formations, deep valleys and UNECO-recognised wonders, AlUla in Saudi Arabia has some of the most stunning landscapes on earth. However, its beauty reaches a whole new level during the month-long AlUla Arts Festival.
Featuring show-stopping outdoor art installations, live shows, workshops, talks and community events, the site-specific artworks of Desert X AlUla 2026 are just one of its many staggeringly amazing highlights. If you haven’t managed to make it over to visit AlUla yet, this is your perfect excuse to do so ASAP.
16 January to 14 February. Visit: experiencealula.com
Formerly the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, this friendly movement was initially launched in 2013 with just 30 participants. Set within the historic walls of Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, the UAE’s last remaining intact Emirati pearling community, this year’s edition will feature 106 talented artists of 49 different nationalities, plus a jam-packed four-week programme of outdoor music and dance, food and heritage tours, dining experiences from MICHELIN-recognised venues, cultural film screenings and more.
Inspired by the theme of 'Civilizations' and Ras Al Khaimah’s position along ancient trade routes, entry is completely free, with ticketed experiences available for an extra cost.
16 January to 8 February. Visit: rakart.ae
Showcasing the skills of more than 80 artists from 31 countries, the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar will feature the largest collection of public works ever exhibited in an Art Basel show.
Along with presenting 87 mesmerising galleries at cultural hub M7 in the heart of Doha, more fascinating, large-scale sculptures and installations can also be found scattered across the Doha Design District in downtown Msheireb as part of the Special Projects programme.
5 to 7 February. Visit: artbasel.com
One of the stars of the region’s art calendar for the past two decades, Art Dubai is marking its 20th anniversary with an event to remember.
Inviting you to immerse yourself in three days of incredible contemporary and digital art within the gorgeous Madinat Jumeirah, this year's edition is centred around the theme of Future, Past, Present, with more than half of the participants hailing from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asian.
17 to 19 April. Visit: artdubai.ae
Inviting you to get lost in over 10,000 artworks from 400 of the world’s most prestigious galleries, art events don’t get much bigger or more exclusive than World Art Dubai.
Hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre and now in its 11th year, the programme of talks, performances and workshops just seems to get better and better.
23 to 26 April. Visit: worldartdubai.com
Titled In Interludes and Transitions, the third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale explores the movements and
transformations that connect the Gulf region with the rest of the world. Bringing together over 70 artists, musicians, filmmakers, architects, and writers, and 20 moving new works set across the JAX District, it powerfully symbolises how culture can create resilience in times of uncertainty.
30 January to 2 May. Visit: biennale.org.sa
In case you somehow missed the big news, Abu Dhabi Art has been transformed into Frieze Abu Dhabi, marking a landmark development for the UAE capital’s ever-growing art scene. Responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious art fairs, Frieze will bring its own unique twist to the much-loved, 17-year-old event. Set to include a fabulous line-up of leading galleries from the Middle East and across the globe, a community programme of events and talks will be held alongside the main fair, too.
November, date TBC. Visit: frieze.com
