The first Bluewaters Art Festival ran April 12–20, 2025 as a free, open-air art event on Bluewaters Island, with 20+ murals, installations, live performances and workshops, and daily hours from 4 pm–midnight. As of September 28th, 2025, organizers have not yet announced 2026 dates—we’ll update this guide the moment they do.
What is Bluewaters Art Festival?
Bluewaters Art Festival is a new outdoor art celebration staged across Bluewaters Island—home to landmark attractions like Ain Dubai—turning the waterfront into a walkable gallery of murals, interactive works and family programs. The 2025 launch positioned Bluewaters as a fresh cultural stop on Dubai’s art map.
2025 recap: what happened at the first edition
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Dates & timings: April 12–20, 2025, 4 pm–midnight daily.
Cost: Free entry. -
Theme: “Re:Connect” (often styled Re:Connect / Re: connecting), explored through murals, inflatable art, fabric and light pieces, outdoor sculpture and indoor exhibits.
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Scale: 20+ murals and large-scale works, with live performances, talks and hands-on workshops for all ages.
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Curatorial & partners: Curated by Burcu Güney, with collaborations and activations involving Firetti Contemporary, Kanvas, and Studio 13.
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Artists & pieces: Coverage highlighted sensory installations by Areen Hassan, digital murals by Kaveh Ahanger, and a mix of outdoor and indoor experiences across the island.
Will Bluewaters Art Festival return in 2026?
Status: TBA. At the time of writing (Aug 31, 2025), neither the official Bluewaters site nor major local guides have published 2026 dates. Expect an announcement closer to spring if the festival returns on a similar April timeline. We’ll update this guide as soon as dates are confirmed.
Why it matters for Dubai’s art calendar
Dubai already hosts big cultural tentpoles in spring; the Bluewaters festival adds a free, family-friendly evening program on a popular island destination—easy to pair with gallery visits and larger fairs. If Bluewaters 2026 aligns with other April events (e.g., Art Dubai 2026 is slated for April 17–19), travelers could plan a compact, art-packed weekend around both.
How to plan your visit (when 2026 is announced)
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Go after sunset. The inaugural edition ran 4 pm–midnight; lighting and temperature are better in the evening.
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Bring the family. Expect workshops and interactive pieces; the 2025 edition was free across the island.
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Combine with JBR/Marina. Bluewaters is a short hop from JBR and Dubai Marina for dining before or after the art.
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Check Instagram the week before. Curators, partner galleries (e.g., Firetti, Kanvas) and the @bluewatersdubai account posted nightly highlights and schedules in 2025.
Key facts (bookmark for 2026)
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Location: Bluewaters Island, Dubai
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Format: Open-air art festival with large-scale murals & installations, performance, talks, workshops
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2025 dates: April 12–20, 4 pm–midnight, free entry
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2026: Not yet announced (watch this space)
