Bana Kattan is curator of National Pavilion UAE, Venice Biennial 2026
- Last updated: October 1, 2025 | 09:59
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
The National Pavilion UAE has announced the appointment of Bana Kattan, Curator and Associate Head of Exhibitions at Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, as curator of the UAE’s upcoming participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026 (May 9 - November 22, 2026; pre-opening May 6, 7, 8).
Kattan was selected by a committee of leading figures from the UAE’s creative sector, including representatives from government, museums, and universities. Before joining Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Kattan served as Associate Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, where she curated exhibitions featuring multigenerational artists, including Wafaa Bilal (2025), Maryam Taghavi (2024), and Mona Hatoum (2023).
She holds an MA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is a recipient of the Barjeel Global Fellowship and Getty-CAA International Program Grants. Previously, at NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, she curated a research-driven exhibition programme, including Permanent Temporariness by Sandi Hilal and Alessandro Petti (2018), exploring themes of displacement and refugeeness, and But We Cannot See Them: Tracing a UAE Art Community, 1988–2008 (2017), which highlighted a group of pioneering Emirati artists and the interconnected nature of their community.
Born in Abu Dhabi and raised in the UAE, Kattan is deeply connected to the country’s cultural landscape, having witnessed the growth and evolution of its artistic community. Drawing on her experience in the region, she has played an active role in shaping discourse around the UAE’s contemporary art scene. Her work engages with socio-political and historical themes, while fostering dialogue among both emerging and established artists, across generations, disciplines and various media. She is currently based in New York City.
Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, said: “The Ministry of Culture is committed to amplifying the UAE’s cultural and creative voices on the global stage. We are pleased to welcome Bana Kattan as curator of the National Pavilion UAE at the Biennale Arte 2026. With her curatorial expertise and deep connection to the UAE, she will bring forward perspectives that resonate both locally and internationally. Through this exhibition, the Pavilion continues to affirm the UAE’s role as a centre for creativity and cultural dialogue.”
Bana Kattan said that “it is an honour to be appointed curator of the National Pavilion UAE for the Biennale Arte 2026. Having worked extensively in the region and alongside a wide range of multigenerational and transdisciplinary artists from the Arab world, I look forward to contributing my experience to a project that reflects the UAE’s vibrant artistic landscape, while engaging with broader histories, complexities, and conversations.” Angela Migally, Executive Director of the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation said: “As Commissioner of the National Pavilion UAE, the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation is committed to nurturing ideas, people, and practices that shape our shared future.
“Our work is rooted in supporting cultural ecosystems that enable practitioners to grow, collaborate, and contribute to the UAE’s evolving creative landscape. Bana Kattan’s appointment as curator reflects this commitment and the Foundation’s belief in the power of the arts in fostering dialogue and creating connections across communities.” Laila Binbrek, Director of the National Pavilion UAE said that “Bana Kattan’s career has been deeply intertwined with the UAE, from her early work at the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery to her leadership role at the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. We are thrilled to welcome her as curator for Biennale Arte 2026. Her appointment reflects the Pavilion’s driving purpose: to shed light on underexplored narratives by bringing together diverse artistic perspectives that reflect the UAE’s unique blend of histories and communities.”
The theme of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia is In Minor Keys by Koyo Kouoh; Kouoh (1967–2025) was a Cameroonian-Swiss art curator. Biennale Arte 2026 will mark the UAE’s fifteenth exhibition at the Art and Architecture International Exhibitions organised by La Biennale di Venezia and its ninth participation in the International Art Exhibition. The UAE’s current exhibition at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition is Pressure Cooker, curated by Azza Aboualam. The exhibition investigates the evolving relationship between architecture and food production in the UAE, proposing innovative solutions for more sustainable food production at both individual and communal scales. It is on view till November 23.
The National Pavilion UAE is commissioned by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and supported by the UAE Ministry of Culture, with a permanent pavilion at the Arsenale – Sale d’Armi. It is an award-winning pavilion that curates the untold stories about the UAE’s arts and architecture. For each participation in the International Art and Architecture Exhibitions of La Biennale di Venezia - one of the world’s most significant and rigorous cultural platforms - the National Pavilion UAE appoints and works with curators, artists, and contributors to conceive, research and develop an exhibition and offer an accompanying publication that advances and preserves an understanding of UAE’s cultural landscape. The Pavilion’s presentation at Biennale Arte 2026 will also be accompanied by a dedicated publication.
Since 2009, the National Pavilion UAE’s exhibitions have explored the nation’s cultural evolution, including experimental twentieth-century artists and the diverse contemporary scene. Alongside an extensive pool of artists, curators, researchers and partners who have contributed to its exhibitions over the years, the UAE’s Venice internship programme has provided training and hands-on experience to more than two hundred interns, many of whom are now working in the cultural sector.