Some of the UAE’s most anticipated art and design events have revealed new details for the months ahead. Here’s what we know so far.
The UAE’s cultural calendar is entering an especially busy period, with several of its major art and design events beginning to reveal their programmes for late 2026 and 2027. New fairs are joining established institutions, international galleries are preparing to return to the country, and programmes are increasingly extending beyond traditional exhibition spaces into public art, performance, film and design. Here are four dates to have on the radar.
Frieze Abu Dhabi
November 19–22, 2026
One of the most significant additions to the UAE’s art calendar this year is the inaugural Frieze Abu Dhabi, taking place at Manarat Al Saadiyat from November 19 to 22. Recently released details have given us more of an insight into what to expect from this highly anticipated gathering.
More than 80 galleries from 36 countries and regions will participate in the first edition, but the programme is designed to extend well beyond the traditional gallery-booth format.
A major highlight will be Qubbat Duris, a new site-responsive commission by Beirut- and London-based artist Dala Nasser, selected for the inaugural Frieze Abu Dhabi Artist Award.
Curated by Nabila Abdel Nabi, the installation takes its name from a 13th-century monument near Baalbek in Lebanon and will transform the fair’s Atrium through a timber structure and textile paintings incorporating materials including ash, clay and terracotta.
The UAE’s own artistic community will also be art of the event with In Dialogue: At Another Meeting Point, curated by Dirwaza Curatorial Lab, will pair the work of established Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem with that of Alia Zaal, creating a conversation between two generations and distinct creative practices.
Frieze will also move into the public realm with Frieze Sculpture Abu Dhabi, running at Mamsha Beach, Saadiyat Island, from November 16 to December 16. Works by artists including Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Zeinab Alhashemi, Imran Qureshi and Kamran Samimi will form part of the outdoor programme.
A three-day series of conversations with artists, curators, museum leaders and collectors will complete the fair, exploring subjects including the evolving role of global museums and new approaches to curatorial practice.
Dubai Design Week
November 3–8, 2026
The region’s largest design festival returns to Dubai Design District (d3) for its 12th edition this November, once again bringing architecture, interiors, product design, installations and emerging talent together across a packed six-day programme.
At the centre will be Downtown Design, running from November 4 to 8 on the d3 waterfront. The commercial fair remains one of the week’s key meeting points for international design brands, studios, architects and collectors, while the wider festival creates space for more experimental installations and emerging practices.
Among this year’s additions is Landscape of Objects, a project by international design platform Isola that will extend beyond d3 through a series of curated spaces across Business Bay and Downtown Dubai.
The UAE Designer Exhibition also returns, continuing its focus on locally based and manufactured design talent. Together, the programmes reflect how Dubai Design Week has evolved from a concentrated industry event into a broader exploration of how design shapes the way we live.
Sharjah Biennial 17
January 21–June 13, 2027
Sharjah Art Foundation will begin 2027 with the 17th edition of Sharjah Biennial, unfolding across 11 venues in the emirate over almost five months. Curated by Angela Harutyunyan and Paula Nascimento under the title “What Remains, Sits Restive”, the Biennial will bring together 109 participants, continuing Sharjah’s long-standing focus on artistic research, experimentation and conversations that extend well beyond the conventional exhibition format.
Its opening programme, running from January 21 to 24, will span Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Kalba and Khorfakkan, with exhibition tours, performances, film screenings and cultural activities forming part of the opening weekend.
The geographical reach is significant. Rather than concentrating the experience in one cultural district, the Biennial will once again encourage visitors to move through different parts of the emirate, placing contemporary artistic practice alongside distinct landscapes, communities and histories.
Sharjah Art Foundation has also confirmed the return of March Meeting, taking place from March 19 to 21, 2027. Long established as an important forum for artists, curators and cultural practitioners, it will add another layer of discussion to the Biennial’s wider programme.
Art Dubai 2027
April 7–11, 2027
The UAE’s spring art season will continue with the 21st edition of Art Dubai, returning to Madinat Jumeirah in April. Preview days are scheduled for April 7 and 8, followed by public dates from April 9 to 11.
For 2027, the fair is expanding its programme across five distinct sections. Art Dubai Galleries remains the central commercial platform, while Zamaniyyat, curated by Dr Sarah A. Rifky, will focus on 20th-century modernism across the region.
Bawwaba will continue to provide space for focused solo presentations, while Art Dubai Digital explores the evolving relationship between contemporary art, artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
A further development comes through Art Dubai Extended, curated by Alexie Glass-Kantor, which will move beyond individual gallery booths through performance, sound, sculpture and site-responsive projects across the wider fair.
