Art Dubai has announced the first details of its special 2026 edition, set to take place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from 15 until 17 May. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the fair returns with a focused format that reflects its evolving role as a leading international platform for art from the region and beyond.
Celebrating two decades since its founding, this edition brings together over 75 galleries, institutional participants and partners, presenting contemporary, modern and digital practices that trace both the history and continuing development of the fair. It highlights the galleries, institutions and artistic communities that have contributed to shaping Dubai’s position as a central hub within the global cultural landscape.
Benedetta Ghione, executive director of Art Dubai Group remarks on the fair’s milestone: “Art Dubai has always been more than a conventional art fair, developing into an international platform for this region’s cultural scene as it matures. This special edition will demonstrate the resilience of the UAE’s cultural scene as well as the power of collaboration, bringing together galleries, artists and institutions at a time when that role of convening feels more important than ever. Art Dubai’s story is Dubai’s story, and producing this special edition would only be possible in Dubai, for an organisation that has grown hand-in-hand with the city, and with the support of our long-term partners. Current circumstances mean that this may not be what we had planned to mark our 20th edition, but the galleries and wider programmes represent what makes Art Dubai both unique and special.”
A key feature of the upcoming 2026 programme is an expanded institutional collaboration model developed with cultural partners across the UAE, including Alserkal Avenue, Art Jameel Centre, Barjeel Art Foundation, Dubai Collection and Sharjah Art Foundation. These partnerships will extend beyond traditional exhibition formats, activating the fair through installations performances, screening and programmes that span throughout the site.
Marking the first year for Alexie Glass-Kantor as executive director, curatorial, Art Dubai Group and Dunja Gottweis as director of Art Dubai, the fair enters a new phase of programming and curatorial development. Speaking on the programme, Gottweis notes “This special edition of Art Dubai brings together galleries from nearly 20 countries with strong representation from the region and internationally. This is testament to the unique role Art Dubai has played over two decades in supporting and sustaining Dubai as the centre of the region’s art market. Spanning contemporary, modern and digital practices, the gallery programme offers a breadth of perspectives, from emerging artists to more established names alongside significant historical presentations. What stands out is the strength and intent of these presentations: galleries are showing ambitious, considered work, reflecting both the depth of the region and its connections across a wider set of cultural contexts.”
Glass-Kantor shares: “Things we do together has been a guiding thread in shaping the programme – thinking about how artists, galleries, institutions and audiences come into relationship across the fair. From large-scale installations to talks, performances and more informal moments of gathering, the focus is on creating an experience that feels connected and open. Developed in collaboration with leading cultural institutions across the UAE and the region, the programme brings different forms of practice into dialogue, and invites audiences to spend time, engage, and encounter work in unexpected ways.”
Art Dubai 2026 continues to build collaboration, with Dubai Culture as strategic partner A.R.M. Holding as presenting partner. Offering free entry to all visitors, the fair remains an open cultural platform that reinforces Dubai’s role as a vibrant hub for international cultural exchange.
Participating Galleries:
Ab-Anbar Gallery
Agial Art Gallery
Aisha Alabbar
Art Fungible
Athr
Galerie Atiss Dakar
AWL
Ayyam Gallery
Saleh Barakat Gallery
Bluerose
Carbon 12
Pedro Cera
Galleria Continua
Dirimart
Dom Art Projects
Efie Gallery
Galerie Frank Elbaz
Foundry
Taymour Grahne Projects
GVCC
Mark Hachem
Hafez Gallery
Leila Heller Gallery
Hunna Art Gallery
Iragui
Iregular
Iris Projects
Gallery Isabelle
Labor
Lawrie Shabibi
JD Malat Gallery
John Martin Gallery
Meem Gallery
Nika Project Space
Galleria Franco Noero
Gallery One
Perrotin
Pinksummer
Iyad Qanazea Gallery
Rarares Gallery
Rizq Art Initiative
The Rooster Gallery
Lilia Ben Salah
Shankay
Solo
SSK
Tabari Artspace
The Third Line
Waddington Custot
Zawyeh Gallery
Special Edition Programme Participants
Artist commsions and Installtions
Khalid Al Banna
Hashel Al Lamki
Rashid Bin Shabib and Ahmed Bin Shabib
Rami Farook
Kevork Mourad
Yaw Owusu
Neda Razavipour
Sudarshan Shetty
Programme Partnerhsips
Alserkal Avenue
Art Jameel
Barjeel Art Foundation
Dubai Collection
Global Art Forum
House of Arts
National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia
Sharjah Art Foundation
Art Dubai Special Edition will run from 15 until 17 May 2026
