Following the success of its inaugural Abu Dhabi edition in 2025, NOMAD returns in 2026 for its second edition, bringing together an expanding mix of international galleries, regional initiatives, institutional collaborations and site-specific works in one of the world’s fastest-growing cultural markets.
NOMAD Abu Dhabi 2026 takes place at Terminal 1 of the Old Abu Dhabi Airport from 18 to 22 November 2026. Set within the former airport terminal, a modernist landmark designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the building was first commissioned in 1974 and completed in 1982. It transforms this modernist landmark into an immersive setting for collectible design, contemporary art and jewellery.
ERTH Abu Dhabi, one of the capital’s leading Emirati hospitality destinations, is set to become NOMAD’s hub, hosting meals, conversations and gatherings where guests can network and reflect between gallery and showcase visits.
The venue also holds historical and architectural significance for the capital. Commissioned in the 1980s and designed by French architect Roger Taillibert, it was completed in 1997 as a private recreational space for armed forces officers. In 2003, it opened to the public, before being rebranded as ERTH five years ago, taking its name from the Arabic word for “legacy”.
What to Expect at NOMAD Abu Dhabi 2026
NOMAD Abu Dhabi 2026 places a stronger focus on design practices and organisations connected to the UAE and the wider region, bringing material knowledge, craft traditions and contemporary experimentation into the spotlight. AWL, a new design gallery from Al Ain, joins House of Artisans and Irthi, alongside Iwan Maktabi + Don Tanani. Together, these participants highlight the region’s evolving design landscape, where traditional craftsmanship and established material practices meet contemporary approaches to design.
The regional focus sits alongside an international line-up of galleries, with NOMAD offering visitors a rare opportunity to step inside Terminal 1, transforming a building once associated with arrivals and departures into a cultural destination. The setting provides a distinctive backdrop for this year’s fair, which brings together established exhibitors and galleries making their NOMAD Abu Dhabi debut. Among the newcomers are Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Mumbai-based ÆQUŌ, Galerie Negropontes, JCRD, Warsaw’s Craftica Gallery, Maison Intègre from Ouagadougou and Seoul’s Vein, among others. They join returning exhibitors, including Milan’s Nilufar, Paris-based Galerie Gastou and Galerie BSL, and London’s Gallery FUMI.
The wider exhibitor line-up also extends across the region and beyond. From the UAE, visitors can expect to see DCAD Abu Dhabi, The AP Room, SUPERLOOP, Gallery Gradient and V-Gallery. Bahrain will be represented by A2Z Advisory and Mattar Jewelers, while Gem Alf Rare Finds & Works joins from Istanbul, PIK’D S.A.L. from Beirut, Le Lab from Cairo, and Leila Heller Gallery brings its presence from Dubai and New York.
NOMAD Abu Dhabi 2026 introduces a new collaboration between the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris and House of Artisans. The partnership will establish an annual programme dedicated to fostering connections between traditional Emirati craftsmanship and innovative design. For the inaugural commission, Abdel El Tayeb, a recipient of the 2024 IMA Design Award, is collaborating with Emirati master artisans to create a large-scale, site-specific installation for this year’s fair.
