Art Dubai will postpone and restructure its 2026 edition following escalating conflicts across the Gulf, as confirmed through a statement on Instagram.
The fair was scheduled to host its 20th anniversary edition from April 17th to 19th at Madinat Juneirah as part of Dubai Art Week. However, as violence in the region worsens, the fair announced it will run from May 14th to 17th instead. It will proceed with what organizers describe as an “adapted format,” following consultations with artists, institutional partners, and galleries.
Organizers emphasized the importance of maintaining the fair as a platform for the regional cultural ecosystem. The revised edition will be more “focused and flexible,” bringing participants together through presentations, collaborations, and public programming rather than following a standard fair model.
The changes follow heightened instability in the region after February 28th, when the United States and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran. Tehran responded with missile attacks targeting locations across the Arabian Gulf, with several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, intercepting incoming projectiles.
In the U.A.E., authorities advised residents and visitors to remain at home beginning March 1st, as a precautionary measure. A number of cultural institutions subsequently closed, including the Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai, the Sharjah Art Museum, and NYU Abu Dhabi, while the Sharjah Art Foundation suspended tours and public programming. Commercial galleries across Dubai have also temporarily shut their doors. Closures include spaces at Alserkal Avenue such as Leila Heller, Firetti Contemporary, Taymour Grahne Projects, and Perrotin.
