Art fairs, biennials and design weeks in the UAE
Abu Dhabi Art Week brings Frieze and NOMAD into the same November week, and the Guggenheim opens on Saadiyat in December. Dubai answers with Design Week in November and Art Dubai in spring.
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Culture·Abu DhabiAl Dhafra Festival 2026-27
Oct27to 13 Jan27 Oct 2026 to 13 Jan 2027Sweihan, Razeen, Madinat Zayed and other Al Dhafra sitesThe 20th Al Dhafra Festival runs in five stages of camel beauty contests and heritage competitions from 27 October 2026 to 13 January 2027 in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
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Culture·DubaiTitize: A Venetian Dream
Oct29to 3129 to 31 Oct 2026Dubai Opera, Downtown DubaiTitize: A Venetian Dream at Dubai Opera on 29 October 2026 to 31 October 2026, from AED 275.
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Culture·Abu DhabiNass
Oct3030 Oct 2026The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandNass at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on 30 October 2026, from AED 52.50.
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Culture·SharjahSharjah International Book Fair 2026 (45th)
Nov4to 154 to 15 Nov 2026Expo Centre SharjahThe 45th Sharjah International Book Fair runs from 4 to 15 November 2026 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme “Made of Stories”, with Oman as guest of honour, more than 2,600 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries and some 1,500 cultural events.
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Art and design·Abu DhabiFrieze Abu Dhabi 2026 and Abu Dhabi Art Week
Nov18to 2218 to 22 Nov 2026Manarat Al Saadiyat and Old Abu Dhabi AirportFrieze Abu Dhabi makes its debut on 19 to 22 November 2026 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, the same week as NOMAD Abu Dhabi (18 to 22 November, Old Abu Dhabi Airport) and the opening of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial in the city on 15 November.
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NOMAD Abu Dhabi
Nov18to 2218 to 22 Nov 2026Terminal 1, Old Abu Dhabi AirportAn international art and design fair in the disused Terminal 1 at Old Abu Dhabi Airport, 18 to 22 November 2026.
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Culture·Abu DhabiAlgarabia
Nov2626 Nov 2026Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu DhabiAlgarabia at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental on 26 November 2026, from AED 100.
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Culture·Abu DhabiGuggenheim Abu Dhabi opens
Dec1111 Dec 2026Saadiyat Island, Abu DhabiThe Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a museum of modern and contemporary art designed by the late Frank Gehry, is scheduled to open on Saadiyat Island on 11 December 2026, completing the Saadiyat Cultural District's major museums.
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Abracadabra
Dec18to 1918 to 19 Dec 2026Dubai Opera, Downtown DubaiAbracadabra at Dubai Opera on 18 December 2026 to 19 December 2026, from AED 230.
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Art and design·SharjahSharjah Biennial 17
Jan21to 13 Jun21 Jan to 13 Jun 2027Sharjah Art Foundation venuesSharjah Biennial 17, titled What remains, sits restive, is shown by Sharjah Art Foundation in Sharjah from 21 January to 13 June 2027.
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Art and design·Ras Al KhaimahRAK Art 2027: Lost in Translation
Jan22to 14 Feb22 Jan to 14 Feb 2027Al Jazeera Al Hamra heritage village, Ras Al KhaimahThe RAK Art festival runs from 22 January to 14 February 2027 in the heritage village of Al Jazeera Al Hamra, on the theme Lost in Translation.
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Tamaas Festival
Jan2929 Jan 2027The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandTamaas Festival at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on 29 January 2027.
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Ramadaniyat: The Handover
Feb1717 Feb 2027The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat IslandRamadaniyat: The Handover at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on 17 February 2027, from AED 52.50.