The 'Art Dubai' Family Grows.. on the 20th Anniversary

Art Dubai continues to solidify its position as the leading art event in the region, as the fair revealed yesterday that its special 20th-anniversary edition will be a major milestone, showcasing over 100 modern, contemporary, and digital art exhibits from 35 countries, within a multidisciplinary and multicultural program that reflects the vibrancy of Dubai and its unique spirit based on dynamism, diversity, and a forward-looking vision.

The 'Art Dubai 2026' edition will feature five newly redesigned sections within the conceptual framework of this year's fair, under the theme: 'The Future, The Past, The Present'.

The fair returns to Madinat Jumeirah from April 17 to 19, with preliminary tours for VIPs on the 15th and 16th of the same month. This edition represents the first under the management of the new fair director, Dunya Goutaïss.

Goutaïss stated: 'Over the past 20 years, the fair has played a pivotal role in shaping Dubai's creative identity and has become one of the most prominent art fairs globally in a city characterized by vibrancy and cosmopolitanism. Here, culture and art not only provide a lively scene but also form a comprehensive global network of artists, gallery owners, collectors, and curators, all contributing to building a vibrant local cultural ecosystem throughout the year.'

She added: 'The renewed sections of the fair this year, under the theme (The Future, The Past, The Present), continue to affirm Art Dubai's commitment to the unique historical context of the region, highlighting contemporary artistic practices, innovative methods, and future visions. Dubai is a leading hub for the thriving art market in the region, and the volume and quality of requests we have received for the 20th-anniversary edition reflect the opportunities, creativity, and positive energy that characterize this phase. We are particularly pleased to welcome 26 new participants joining the Art Dubai family for the first time.'

Art Dubai focuses on contemporary artistic practices that enrich global dialogue and address internationally relevant issues, supported by four curated sections developed in collaboration with a group of leading international curators and academics. These sections include: 'Zamanayat' under the supervision of Dr. Sara Rafeqi, 'Gateway' under the supervision of Amal Khalaf, 'Art Dubai Digital' under the supervision of Ulrich Schrauth and Nadine Khalil, in addition to the new section 'Gateway - The Expanded Version' under the supervision of Amal Khalaf and Alexey Glass Cantor.

The 2026 edition sees the participation of 36 exhibitors for the first time, including eight in the exhibitions section, two in Zamanayat, seven in Gateway, and 19 in Art Dubai Digital, from Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, and Africa, along with the return of galleries from Morocco, Turkey, Jordan, and India after an absence.

The participation from the African continent has also doubled, with increased attendance from Latin America, including participants from Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. More than half of this year's participants belong to the 'Minasa' region (the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia), including 25 exhibitors who have actual exhibition spaces in Dubai.