Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has officially launched Dubai Art Season 2026, a citywide programme running 21 January to 26 April 2026 that brings together major festivals, art fairs, exhibitions, performances, and immersive experiences across Dubai.

Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, this season is designed to make art more accessible, strengthen Dubai’s cultural ecosystem, and reinforce the emirate’s position as a global centre for the creative economy.

The 2026 theme is Take a walk on the art side, and the calendar is built around a simple idea: you can move through Dubai district by district and experience literature, design, public art, contemporary galleries, and collecting opportunities in one connected season.

Dubai Art Season 2026 at a glance

Dates: 21 January to 26 April 2026
Theme: Take a walk on the art side
What it includes: Literature, visual arts, design, performance, public programmes, exhibitions, and art fairs
Best for: Visitors, collectors, artists, families, students, cultural travellers, and anyone planning a Dubai art trip in early 2026
Official calendar: https://dubaiculture.gov.ae/en/events/Dubai-Art-Season—2026

Key events and dates in Dubai Art Season 2026

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

21 to 27 January 2026
Venue: InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Dubai Art Season opens alongside the 18th edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, bringing together writers, creatives, and thinkers from around the world. Programme highlights include Desert Stanzas and Arabian Nights: Poetry and Law. Dubai Culture will sponsor the BilEmirati and Translation strands, supporting Emirati writers, intellectuals, and translators while strengthening cultural exchange.

Al Quoz Arts Fest

24 and 25 January 2026
Venue: Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz Creative Zone
A vibrant weekend of music, exhibitions, cultural experiences, live creative showcases, and family friendly programming, presented with the support and strategic partnership of Dubai Culture.

Sikka Art and Design Festival

23 January to 1 February 2026
Venue: Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood
Dubai Culture’s flagship festival for visual arts, performance, design, public art, and creative programmes returns for its 14th edition under the theme Imagining Dubai: Identities of the Future. Expect artworks by Emirati artists, UAE residents, and GCC creatives, plus workshops and panel discussions.

Art Dubai 2026

18 to 20 April 2026
Venue: Madinat Jumeirah
The 20th edition of Art Dubai is positioned as a major anchor moment in April, presenting more than 100 contemporary and digital galleries from 35 countries, within a multidisciplinary and cross cultural programme. The 2026 theme is The Future, the Past and the Present, with 36 exhibitors participating for the first time.

World Art Dubai 2026

22 to 26 April 2026
Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre
World Art Dubai returns for its 12th edition, focused on accessible price points, encouraging art collecting, supporting emerging talent, and expanding visual literacy for a broad public.

What else is included in the season

Dubai Opera performances in January and March

Across January and March, Dubai Opera will present musical and theatrical performances featuring regional and international talent across the performing arts and music sectors.

Observers of Change at Etihad Museum

A major retrospective exhibition titled Observers of Change runs at Etihad Museum until 30 June 2026. The show features around 60 artworks from the Barjeel Art Foundation collection, tracing the evolution of artistic practice in the UAE since 1971 across pioneering and contemporary voices.

Birds of Verse by L’ÉCOLE Middle East

The exhibition Birds of Verse, organised by L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts, runs until 25 April 2026 and explores dialogues between Islamic art and Western jewelry in the 19th and 20th centuries, presenting more than 150 works from over 20 institutions.

Immersive and digital art experiences across the city

Dubai Art Season also highlights experiences presented by Arte Museum at Dubai Mall and year round programmes by the Theatre of Digital Art at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, alongside a wide selection of exhibitions at Alserkal Avenue and Jameel Arts Centre.

How to plan your Dubai Art Season 2026 itinerary

Dubai Art Season is built for movement, so planning around districts makes your trip easier.

Route 1: January opening week

• Start with the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature at Dubai Festival City

• Head to Al Shindagha for Sikka Art and Design Festival

• Spend a weekend in Al Quoz for Al Quoz Arts Fest at Alserkal Avenue

Route 2: April art week for collectors and art fair visitors

• Art Dubai at Madinat Jumeirah

• World Art Dubai at Dubai World Trade Centre

• Add a day for Alserkal Avenue and Jameel Arts Centre exhibitions

Route 3: Families and cultural travellers

• Prioritise festivals with workshops and public programming such as Sikka and Al Quoz Arts Fest

• Add an indoor immersive stop at Dubai Mall

• Choose one major fair day in April based on your interests and budget

Tip: If you are visiting during peak weekends, book tickets early where required and check opening hours directly on each venue’s official pages.

Why Dubai Art Season matters for Dubai’s creative economy

Dubai Culture positions Dubai Art Season as an integrated platform that strengthens cultural industries, supports cultural tourism, and builds a sustainable creative environment where talent can turn ideas into impactful artistic experiences. The season is also designed to expand public engagement, encourage knowledge exchange, and reinforce Dubai’s role as a global hub for culture and creativity.

What this means for artists, galleries, and emerging talent

For artists

Dubai Art Season offers high visibility moments where curators, press, and collectors are actively exploring the city. If you are planning to exhibit, collaborate, or apply to opportunities in the UAE, align your outreach and portfolio updates with the season’s peak windows in late January and April.

For galleries

This is the period when international attention is concentrated. Strong programming, clear pricing, and well prepared artist narratives matter more than ever. If you are planning pop ups, collaborations, or collector activations, schedule them alongside Art Dubai and World Art Dubai.

For collectors and first time buyers

Dubai Art Season offers two different collecting environments in April. Use Art Dubai for international gallery discovery and cross cultural narratives, and World Art Dubai for accessible entry points and emerging talent.

The Art Fair Guy consultancy

If you are an artist, gallery, or organiser planning Dubai Art Season 2026, I can support you with:

• A Dubai season strategy that matches your goals and budget

• Booth and exhibition planning for April art fairs

• Portfolio editing, pricing logic, and collector ready presentation

• A targeted outreach plan for Dubai institutions, galleries, and festivals

Reach out via The Art Fair Guy to get a clear plan and next steps.

FAQ

When is Dubai Art Season 2026?

Dubai Art Season 2026 runs from 21 January to 26 April 2026.

What is the theme of Dubai Art Season 2026?

The theme is Take a walk on the art side.

What are the biggest events during Dubai Art Season 2026?

Key highlights include the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Al Quoz Arts Fest, Sikka Art and Design Festival, Art Dubai, and World Art Dubai, plus Dubai Opera performances and major exhibitions across the city.

When is Art Dubai 2026?

Art Dubai takes place 18 to 20 April 2026 at Madinat Jumeirah.

When is World Art Dubai 2026?

World Art Dubai takes place 22 to 26 April 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Where can I see the full Dubai Art Season 2026 calendar?

Dubai Culture provides the official calendar here: https://dubaiculture.gov.ae/en/events/Dubai-Art-Season—2026