Art Dubai announces key details of special edition to be held from 15 to 17 May 2026

Dubai: Art Dubai, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today announced the preliminary list of participants for its 2026 special edition taking place at Madinat Jumeirah from 15-17 May. The art fair, which is set to further solidify Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for culture, arts, and the creative economy, will feature a VIP preview on 14 May. For 20 years, Art Dubai has championed the artists, galleries and collectors whose voices, ideas and practices have built and sustained the region’s cultural landscape. This special edition reflects both that history and the present moment, bringing together a focused programme that builds on the fair’s core strengths of independence, deep local and regional roots and diverse global perspectives. Taking place in a modified format at Madinat Jumeirah, the 2026 programme will foreground the galleries, institutions and communities that have shaped the region’s art scene and market, and will feature over 75 presentations from commercial galleries, institutional participants and partners. The special edition sees the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the fair’s strategic partner, closely collaborating with A.R.M. Holding and a host of leading cultural institutions in a model that reflects the integration of roles between the public and private sectors in supporting the creative economy. Madinat Jumeirah is the home of Art Dubai. International platform Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director, Art Dubai Group, said: “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.” Breadth of perspectives Dunja Gottweis, Director, Art Dubai Fair, noted: “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.” Alexie Glass-Kantor, Executive Director, Curatorial, Art Dubai Group, added: “‘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.” Gallery presentations Rooted in Dubai and deeply connected across the extended region, this special edition of Art Dubai continues to highlight Dubai’s status as the region’s commercial art hub and reflects the fair’s importance in the cultural ecosystem. Spanning a range of contemporary, modern and digital practices, and reflecting Art Dubai’s continued commitment to bridging regional practices with global contexts, this edition will feature over 45 gallery presentations, with around 60% drawn from the region. Innovative model Participants include international galleries that have been committed to the region for decades alongside those that have been instrumental in shaping the region’s cultural landscape. This edition will spotlight the Dubai galleries that have grown alongside the fair and welcome several first-time exhibitors – including international and regional newcomers – into the Art Dubai family. Responding to the challenges that many galleries are currently facing, this edition marks the launch of an innovative risk-sharing model whereby galleries’ booth costs are payable based on success. Through