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, South East Asia and North Africa, shaping dialogue between regional and international art ecosystems.
APPLICATIONS
AND OPEN CALLS
Applications are open for Art Dubai 2027 across its five distinct sections – Art Dubai Galleries, Zamaniyyat, Bawwaba, Art Dubai Digital, and Art Dubai Extended.
Deadline to apply is Friday 9 October, 2026.
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International Art Fair Grant
Dubai-based galleries can apply for up to AED 50,000 to support participation in international art fairs, as part of an initiative by Dubai Culture managed by Art Dubai Projects.
APPLY HERE
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.
Programme
Art Dubai’s fair programme presents commissions, talks and research-led initiatives shaped through collaboration with artists, thinkers and institutions, fostering 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, student tours, and professional development into the heart of the fair, encouraging creative thinking, dialogue and long-term engagement with the arts.
EXHIBITIONS
Each year, curated exhibitions give visitors access to works from leading institutions by celebrated artists from the region, including major showcases from the Dubai Collection, the city’s public collection of modern and contemporary art.
PERFORMANCES & ACTIVATIONS
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.
Past Programmes
UNWRITTEN POETRY
Unwritten was a live literary programme that brought together spoken word, storytelling and community-led participation across the fair. Through poetry performances, live writing activations and open-mic sessions, the programme created space for reflection, connection and shared experience.
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POP-UP STORE BY LOCAL CREATIVES
First launched at Art Dubai in 2011, DXB Store returned with newly produced works and objects by UAE-based creatives, including artists Talal Al Najjar and Jumairy, designer Zaid Farouki and others. Alongside, there was a selection of art and design publications, gifts and editions from the Art Jameel Shop.
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LISTENING BAR
Madinat Jumeirah became a sonic sanctuary. Designed by impaire, powered by Raw Music Store, and programmed by Vinyl Souk, the Listening Bar brought together guided vinyl sessions, live acts, and DJs across the fair’s four days.
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