For its 2026 special edition, Art Dubai foregrounds the people, galleries and institutions that have contributed to the growth of Dubai’s cultural landscape over the past two decades. Rather than presenting a conventional fair format, this edition is framed as a collaborative cultural gathering, connecting galleries, artists, collectors, institutions and audiences through presentations, talks, performances and site-responsive works.
The fair’s gallery programme spans contemporary, modern and digital practices, bringing together emerging and established artists, regional voices and international galleries with longstanding ties to Dubai and the Middle East. The wider programme extends across installations, moving image, live performance and institutional presentations, offering visitors a broad view of how artistic practice in the region continues to evolve.
A guiding theme for the programme is “Things we do together”, reflecting an emphasis on collaboration, dialogue and shared cultural experience.
Alexie Glass-Kantor, Executive Director, Curatorial, Art Dubai Group:
“ ‘Things we do together’ has been a guiding thread in shaping the programme—thinking about how artists, galleries, institutions and audiences come into relationship across the fair. From large-scale installations to talks, performances and more informal moments of gathering, the focus is on creating an experience that feels connected and open. Developed in collaboration with leading cultural institutions across the UAE and the region, the programme brings different forms of practice into dialogue, and invites audiences to spend time, engage, and encounter work in unexpected ways.”
Art Dubai has been one of the first major international art fairs to establish a dedicated digital art section. Launched in 2022, Art Dubai Digital explores the intersection of new media, technology and contemporary culture, including practices connected to AI, virtual reality, blockchain, data, immersive installation and screen-based work.
