AN UPDATE ON ART DUBAI
We have remained in close dialogue with all our stakeholders over the past few weeks and across these discussions, there remains a clear sense that maintaining the platform that Art Dubai represents is important for the wider cultural ecosystem.
A special edition of Art Dubai will take place at Madinat Jumeirah from 15–17 May 2026.
This adapted edition will take the form of a more focused and flexible format, bringing together galleries, artists and institutions through a combination of presentations, collaborations and public programming.
Art Dubai Fair serves as a cultural platform rooted in the Middle East. It has become one of the most significant global art gatherings for the Middle East and the Global South, shaping dialogue between regional and international art ecosystems.
Exhibitors
Positioned at the forefront of dialogue
between the Global South and the wider art
world, Art Dubai Fair brings together leading
and emerging galleries spotlighting modern,
contemporary and digital practices that shape
and inform cultural narratives.
Programmes
Art Dubai Fair’s programme presents commissions, talks and research-led initiatives developed with artists and institutions. The programme fosters exchange, experimentation and critical engagement across disciplines and geographies.
TALKS AND CONFERENCES
Art Dubai’s talks gathers artists, curators, researchers and innovators for panels, keynote sessions and public dialogues addressing the cultural, technological and social forces defining contemporary art inspiring the exchange of ideas and critical perspectives.
EDUCATION
Education initiatives at Art Dubai bring artist-led workshops and professional development into the heart of the fair, encouraging creative thinking, dialogue and long-term engagement with the arts.
EXHIBITIONS
Each year at Art Dubai Fair, Dubai Collection, the city’s public collection of modern and contemporary art, curates an institutional exhibition of works from the Collection, giving visitors access to artworks from private collections.
COMMISSIONS & PERFORMANCES
Commissions, performances, and installations transform the fair into a dynamic site of encounter and discovery. From site-specific commissions, to live performances and exhibitions, audiences are invited to engage with diverse contemporary art practices.
DIGITAL INSTALLATIONS
Art Dubai Digital each year presents site-specific and installation-led works showcasing practices that often exist outside traditional frameworks, offering a space to rethink how digital practices intersect with broader cultural production
AFTER DARK
After Dark transforms Fort Island with live DJ sets by emerging talent playing disco, funk and global dance music, bringing a different rhythm to the fair after hours. More info to be announced.
