As Muscat continues to develop and expand its cultural scene, Muscat Art returns for its fifth edition, presenting works by Omani and international artists under the theme Art Is Everywhere. Held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) in partnership with BilArab Bin Haitham Initiatives, the event showcases art as a means of exploring identity and highlights the spaces that shape everyday life, while contributing to a wider conversation about the place of contemporary art within Oman’s cultural landscape.
Organised by OCEC, Muscat Art was established to provide a platform for artists to present their work and connect with a range of audiences. By drawing on Oman’s established artistic community while also creating opportunities for emerging artists, the exhibition serves as a meeting point that opens up possibilities for collaboration and the exchange of ideas. The 2026 edition features more than 300 participating artists, with Omani artist Anwar Sonya, a prominent figure in Oman’s contemporary art movement, amongst those showing work. The exhibition’s international dimension is reflected in its guest artists, among them Syrian artist Noor Bahjat, Fatma Lootah from the UAE, Palestinian artist Leen Al Ayoubi, Filipino artist Loriel Castillo, known as Yelcast, and Mustafa Suleiman . Their inclusion encourages a broader lens on artistic perspectives shaped by diverse cultural and personal experiences within a shared setting.
As its theme indicates, the exhibition looks beyond conventional artistic spaces to understand the ways in which we make sense of our environment. From architecture and inherited traditions to shared histories and everyday spaces, it encourages visitors to understand how creative practices are woven into the cultural fabric of a place, linking its heritage with contemporary perspectives. A diverse events programme enriches the exhibition through a series of activations including workshops, art talks and panel discussions, enabling an audience experience that extends beyond simply viewing the artworks. The workshops will invite participants to engage with different artistic techniques and media, while the Art Talks – entitled Reimagining Space: Artists Reshaping Places, Ideas, and Traditions – will address how artists respond to the environments and contexts around them. Complementing these conversations will be a series of panel discussions considering the evolving creative industries and the relationship between artistic expression, entrepreneurship and cultural development.
An annual exhibition such as Art Is Everywhere offers a stimulating and rewarding encounter, but its wider significance lies in its layered contribution to the wider scene. For Muscat Art, presenting more than 300 artists from different backgrounds creates an opportunity to strengthen relationships between local and international creative communities. It serves a space through which contemporary art practitioners can gain greater visibility and where the ‘art conversation’ is strengthened and diversified. While history and tradition remain integral to Oman’s identity, artists continue to find innovative ways of interpreting these references in dialogue with the present. These ambitions sit within a broader conversation about the development of the country’s cultural sector. As Muscat continues to expand its arts scene, the involvement of cultural and tourism institutions also point to an understanding of art as part of the Sultanate’s larger cultural offering and the potential to attract visitors to experiences that reach beyond conventional sightseeing.
Muscat Art 2026 is presented by BilArab Bin Haitham Initiatives as the Lead Sponsor, with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism serving as Strategic Partners. Sadolin also supports the exhibition as the Colour Sponsor and Omq Production as the Creative Partner.
Muscat Art 2026 runs from 28 until 30 October
This article is sponsored by Muscat Art
