A city-wide celebration of creativity and cultural exchange
Dubai is set to transform into a living, breathing canvas as Dubai Art Season 2026 unfolds across the city from January 21 to April 26, 2026. Announced by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, the season is a sweeping cultural programme that brings together literature, visual arts, performance, design, music, and digital creativity under one ambitious vision.
Designed to nurture a thriving arts ecosystem and make culture accessible to everyone, Dubai Art Season reflects the emirate’s long-term commitment to creativity as a cornerstone of social and economic development. With exhibitions, festivals, fairs, and live performances taking place in historic districts, contemporary venues, and public spaces, the city invites residents and visitors alike to take part in an inclusive artistic journey.
‘Take a Walk on the Art Side’: A unifying theme
Held under the theme “Take a walk on the art side,” Dubai Art Season 2026 encourages exploration and participation rather than passive observation. The theme positions art as part of everyday life in Dubai, woven into streets, neighbourhoods, and cultural institutions.
The season is carefully curated to appeal to diverse audiences, from seasoned collectors and industry professionals to families, students, and first-time art-goers. It also reinforces Dubai Culture’s mission to strengthen cultural identity while fostering dialogue between local and global creative communities.
Literature opens the season with global voices
Dubai Art Season 2026 begins in parallel with the 18th edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, running from January 21 to January 27 at InterContinental Dubai Festival City. Recognised as one of the world’s leading literary festivals, the event brings together an exceptional lineup of writers, poets, thinkers, and creatives from around the world.
The programme blends storytelling, debate, and interactive sessions, offering audiences a chance to engage directly with ideas shaping contemporary culture. Highlights such as “Desert Stanzas” and “Arabian Nights: Poetry and Law” place regional narratives in conversation with global perspectives.
Dubai Culture’s sponsorship of the BilEmirati and Translation strands shines a spotlight on Emirati writers, intellectuals, and translators, celebrating both established voices and emerging talent. These initiatives underscore the importance of cultural exchange and the role of language in bridging societies.
Al Quoz Arts Fest energises the creative district
On January 24 and 25, the creative heart of Al Quoz comes alive as Alserkal Avenue hosts the Al Quoz Arts Fest. Organised with the support and strategic partnership of Dubai Culture within the Al Quoz Creative Zone, the festival offers an immersive mix of music, exhibitions, live art, workshops, and family-friendly entertainment.
The event transforms warehouses and open spaces into hubs of creativity, encouraging audiences to move freely between disciplines and experiences. By combining grassroots creativity with institutional support, Al Quoz Arts Fest reflects Dubai’s commitment to empowering creative communities at every level.
Sikka Art & Design Festival reimagines the future
Visual art and design take centre stage at the 14th edition of the Sikka Art & Design Festival, held from January 23 to February 1 at the Al Shindagha Historic Neighborhood. Presented under the theme “Imagining Dubai: Identities of the Future,” the festival explores how heritage, innovation, and personal narratives intersect in shaping tomorrow’s city.
Featuring works by Emirati artists, UAE residents, and creatives from across the GCC, Sikka offers exhibitions, musical performances, workshops, and panel discussions. Set against the backdrop of one of Dubai’s oldest neighbourhoods, the festival creates a powerful dialogue between past and future, tradition and experimentation.
Art Dubai marks two decades of global dialogue
A major highlight of the season is the 20th edition of Art Dubai, taking place from April 18 to April 20 at Madinat Jumeirah. Held under the theme “The Future, the Past and the Present,” the fair brings together more than 100 contemporary and digital galleries from 35 countries.
With 36 exhibitors participating for the first time, Art Dubai 2026 emphasises cross-cultural exchange and multidisciplinary practice. Talks, commissions, and digital art programmes expand the fair beyond traditional gallery spaces, reinforcing its role as a platform for ideas as much as for artworks.
World Art Dubai broadens access to collecting
From April 22 to April 26, the 12th edition of World Art Dubai will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Focused on accessibility, the fair aims to encourage first-time buyers, promote visual literacy, and support emerging artists.
By offering artworks at a range of price points, World Art Dubai plays a key role in expanding the region’s collector base and making art ownership more inclusive.
Performance and music animate Dubai’s stages
Throughout January and March, Dubai Opera will host a series of musical and theatrical performances featuring regional and international artists. These productions highlight the diversity of the performing arts, from classical music and opera to contemporary theatre, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a cultural destination for live performance.
Exhibitions that reflect memory and identity
Dubai Art Season 2026 also includes the retrospective exhibition “Observers of Change,” running at Etihad Museum until June 30. Featuring around 60 works from the Barjeel Art Foundation, the exhibition traces the evolution of artistic practice in the UAE since 1971, highlighting both pioneering and contemporary artists who have lived and worked in the country.
Another major exhibition, “Birds of Verse,” organised by L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts, runs until April 25. Presenting more than 150 works from over 20 institutions, it explores the dialogue between Islamic art and Western jewellery in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Immersive and digital art experiences
The season also embraces technology and immersive storytelling through experiences by Arte Museum at Dubai Mall, alongside year-round programmes by the Theatre of Digital Art at Souk Madinat Jumeirah. Additional exhibitions across Alserkal Avenue and Jameel Arts Centre further enrich the cultural calendar.
A vision for a global cultural hub
Commenting on the significance of the season, Saleh Shukri AlBreiki emphasised that Dubai Art Season represents a pivotal milestone in the development of Dubai’s cultural and creative sectors. By offering an integrated platform for talent and ideas, the season enhances the competitiveness of creative industries while supporting cultural tourism and public engagement.
Dubai Art Season 2026 stands as a reflection of Dubai’s ambition to be a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent. Through literature, art, and performance, the city invites the world to walk its art-filled streets and take part in shaping its cultural future.
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