Art Dubai’s 20th anniversary edition celebrates creative industry makers

Art Dubai, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has opened at Madinat Jumeirah, with a 20th anniversary edition that celebrates and honours the artists, galleries and institutions that have been central to the two decades of unprecedented growth in the UAE’s creative industries.

To run till May 17 and taking place in a modified format at Madinat Jumeirah, the 2026 programme foregrounds the galleries, institutions and communities that have shaped the region’s art scene and market, featuring over 100 presentations from commercial galleries, institutional participants and partners. The event is free for all to attend, made possible through the support of Dubai Culture.

Rooted in Dubai and deeply connected across the extended region, the special edition of Art Dubai highlights Dubai’s status as the region’s commercial art hub and reflects the fair’s importance in the cultural ecosystem. Spanning a range of contemporary, modern and digital practices, it reflects Art Dubai’s continued commitment to bridging regional practices and global contexts.

Recording a composition.

Participants include international galleries who have been committed to the region for decades, alongside those who have been instrumental in shaping the region’s cultural landscape. This edition welcomes several first-time exhibitors - including international and regional newcomers - into the Art Dubai family. Responding to the challenges that many galleries are facing, the edition features an innovative risk-sharing model whereby galleries’ booth costs are payable, based on success.

Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director, Art Dubai Group said that “Art Dubai’s story is Dubai’s story. We are proud to present a special edition of Art Dubai that reflects our history, our deep local and regional roots, and the decades-long commitment of those who have been instrumental in building this region’s unique cultural ecosystem. Culture breaks down barriers and brings people together, and this edition of Art Dubai opens at a moment when convening feels more important than ever.”

Dunja Gottweis, Director, Art Dubai Fair, said that “this special edition of Art Dubai reflects the fair’s unique DNA, with strong representation from Dubai, the wider region and internationally. Spanning contemporary, modern and digital practices, the gallery programme offers a diversity of perspectives, from modern masters to emerging contemporary and cutting-edge digital practices.”

A close look at art.

Alexie Glass-Kantor, Executive Director, Curatorial, Art Dubai Group said that “ ‘Things we do together’ has been a guiding thread in shaping this year’s programme — thinking about how artists, galleries, institutions and audiences come into relationship across the fair. Across large-scale installations to talks, performances and more informal moments of gathering, we are proud to bring different forms of practice into dialogue, inviting audiences to spend time, engage, and encounter work in unexpected ways.”

Complementing the gallery presentations, a programme of exhibitions, large-scale installations, commissions, performances and screenings alongside a daily programme of talks and conversations, is being presented. Offered in partnership with the UAE’s leading institutions, programme highlights include a cornucopia of large-scale installations, new commissions and site-responsive artworks integrated across the fair, including works by Khalid Al Banna, Hashel Al Lamki, Rashid Bin Shabib and Ahmed Bin Shabib, Rami Farook, Kevork Mourad, Yaw Owusu, Neda Razavipour and Sudarshan Shetty; Made Forward, a major exhibition of works from the Dubai Collection - the city’s first institutional collection of modern and contemporary art; ‘Pulse’, an exhibition of modern Arab masterpieces from the Barjeel Art Foundation collection, including major works by Mahmoud Said, Samia Halaby, Mohamed Melehi and Safeya Binzagr; ‘Moving’, a programme of moving image works by 13 artists co-curated with Alserkal Avenue, and screened at both locations; ‘Against Stillness’, a performance-led programme with Sharjah Art Foundation featuring Muhanad Kareem’s Lawrence, Safa Baluchi and Astral LXXXII; the 20th edition of Art Dubai’s flagship Global Art Forum, commissioned by Shumon Basar and titled ‘Before and After Everything’; a series of HUNA Talks, bringing together diverse voices from across the creative industries to consider how art shapes the way we live, gather, communicate and build identity.

The initiative is a core part of A.R.M. Holding’s longstanding and multi-layered commitment to cultural patronage; DXB Store returns to Art Dubai’s special edition with a presentation of newly produced works and objects by UAE-based makers, designers, collectives and creative practitioners. It was first launched at Art Dubai in 2011.

An artwork bursts from the wall.

Founded in 2007, Art Dubai is the pre-eminent art fair for the Middle East, recognised for its focus on discovery and dialogue and a focus on contemporary, modern, and digital practices. It is a cultural platform that connects artists, galleries and institutions, while contributing to the long-term growth of the region’s creative ecosystem, operating through two complementary pillars: Art Dubai Fair and Art Dubai Projects. Alongside a gallery programme, Art Dubai supports artist commissions, education, and public programming, helping to develop the region’s cultural infrastructure and talent through sustainable, long-term models.

Art Dubai Group is a commercial public/private partnership, also established in 2007. The company owns and delivers the Middle East’s leading creative fairs and festivals. The group now comprises over 30 initiatives, including Art Dubai, Dubai Design Week, the region’s largest creative festival, and Prototypes for Humanity. The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is the strategic partner of Art Dubai. Art Dubai is presented in partnership with A.R.M. Holding. Culturally driven lifestyle developer HUNA is a partner of Art Dubai and Madinat Jumeirah is the home of Art Dubai.