The 18th iteration of Art Dubai, one of the Middle East’s most grandiose and prestigious art events, will be held in Madinat Jumeirah from April 18 to April 20. This year’s fair will showcase around 120 galleries from more than 40 countries, with over 20 debut exhibitors. Beyond the exhibitions, visitors can immerse themselves in an extensive programme of lectures, panel discussions, art performances, workshops, and a plethora of other engaging activities for all ages.
The participating galleries will be divided into four segments. The first one, Art Dubai Contemporary, will highlight works by global artists, offering a snapshot of today’s art landscape. The second section, Bawwaba, curated by Mirjam Varadinis (writer and curator at Kunsthaus Zürich), will feature 10 solo exhibitions displaying art pieces produced within the past year. The featured artists delve into themes of displacement and reimagine ways of living together in an evolving world.
Art Dubai Modern, curated by Magalí Arriola (Director at Museo Tamayo, Mexico) and Nada Shabout (Art History Professor at the University of North Texas, USA), will spotlight influential 20th-century artists from the Middle East whose works have shaped the region’s cultural and artistic landscape. The section will present art pieces by Mehdi Moutashar, Laila Shawa, and Nabil Kanso, among others.
Art Dubai Digital, curated by Gonzalo Herrero Delicado (lecturer at Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art, London), is themed After the Technological Sublime. This section will expand the traditional concept of the sublime, once tied to nature’s overwhelming power, to include human-made creations. It will also host the Digital Summit 2025 on April 18 and 19, which features public talks, lectures, and breakout sessions. The Summit will bring together artists, technologists, and thought leaders to explore how art and technology address pressing environmental, social, and political challenges.
Another key highlight is the Global Art Forum, the largest arts conference in the MENA region. Taking place on April 18 and 19, this year’s edition, The New New Normal, will examine how the nature of change itself is evolving, at times making everyday life feel more unpredictable than science fiction.
Visitors should also not miss Art Dubai Commissions, one of Art Dubai’s signature programmes. This year’s theme centres on transformation, liberation, and the relationship between humanity and materials. One will have an opportunity to admire a variety of stunning installations, including mesmerising digital pieces, such as Carbon Wake by data and kinetic artist BREAKFAST, which visualises real-time energy data collected from cities around the globe, and Mother Earth by Ouchhh Studio, an AI-driven sculpture converting climate data into a sensory experience.
All in all, Art Dubai 2025 promises a thought-provoking journey through contemporary and digital art, history, and innovation. To learn more about this unmissable event for art enthusiasts and creatives alike, please go to its official website.
In addition, you may be interested in visiting Form and Rhythm at Sotheby’s and The Higher We Soar, Mariana Oushiro’s solo exhibition.
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