Art Dubai 2026 Special Edition Fair

Art Dubai opens its 2026 special edition at Madinat Jumeirah on Thursday, May 14, with invited guests attending a preview day from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. before the public programme begins on Friday. The fair runs through Sunday, May 17, and Art Dubai says entry is free for all visitors on public days. The 2026 event is being staged in a modified format, with Art Dubai describing it as a special edition that reflects the fair’s 20-year history and the current moment. The fair said the programme would bring together local, regional and international galleries, alongside institutional partners and cultural organisations that have helped shape Dubai’s art scene and market. Around 75 presentations are planned across commercial galleries, institutional participants and partners, according to Art Dubai’s April 15 announcement. (artdubai.ae) The fair said the line-up spans contemporary, modern and digital work, with additional programming including exhibitions, large-scale installations, performances, screenings and daily talks. Art Dubai’s talks programme will feature artists, curators, researchers and collectors, the organisers said. (artdubai.ae) A separate Dubai Collection presentation, titled *Moving Forward*, draws on more than 20 private collections and includes works by Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq, Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim, Brahim Dhahak and Leila Nseir, according to the programme page. DXB Store, a pop-up retail programme first launched at Art Dubai in 2011, is returning for the special edition with newly produced works and objects by UAE-based creatives including Talal Al Najjar, Jumairy and Zaid Farouki. (artdubai.ae) The programme page says visitors will also be able to browse art and design publications, gifts and editions from the Art Jameel Shop. The fair is presented in partnership with A.R.M. Holding, while Dubai Culture is its strategic partner, according to Art Dubai and the Dubai Media Office. (artdubai.ae) Art Dubai’s announcement also lists collaborations with institutions including Alserkal Avenue, Art Jameel, Barjeel Art Foundation, Dubai Collection and Sharjah Art Foundation. Benedetta Ghione, executive director of Art Dubai Group, said in the fair’s announcement that Art Dubai had developed beyond a conventional fair into an international platform for the region’s cultural scene. (artdubai.ae) She said the special edition would bring together galleries, artists and institutions in a more focused programme. Friday, May 15, marks the first public access period, with VIP hours from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and public hours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to the visitor information page. (artdubai.ae) Saturday public hours run from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday public hours run from noon to 6 p.m., with guided tours scheduled across the weekend through the Art Dubai app. (artdubai.ae)