culture

Dubai's Art Season 2026 Features 14th Sikka Festival and 20th Art Dubai

The four-month stretch from January to April will open with the 14th Sikka Art & Design Festival in Al Shindagha and close with the 20th edition of Art Dubai at Madinat Jumeirah.

By Dubai Culture Desk · Published 25 July 2026

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Dubai's Art Season 2026 Features 14th Sikka Festival and 20th Art Dubai — AI-generated illustration

Dubai's cultural year in 2026 will begin with the Dubai Art Season running from 21 January to 26 April, according to details shared on the Discover Dubai 365 Facebook page.

Season opens with literature and design weeks

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is listed for 21 to 27 January at InterContinental Dubai Festival City, followed immediately by the 14th Sikka Art & Design Festival from 23 January to 1 February in Al Shindagha. These early-year dates place literature and design events at the centre of the January schedule before the season moves into February programming.

Taste of Dubai is scheduled for 6 to 8 February at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, bringing food-focused programming into the same calendar window. The season then extends through March and into April, culminating in the 20th anniversary edition of Art Dubai at Madinat Jumeirah from 18 to 20 April with a VIP preview on 17 April.

Later-year festivals extend the momentum

Further dates supplied in the same post include UNTOLD Dubai from 5 to 8 November, alongside expected appearances by Wireless Festival and SoleDXB. Cultural observances such as the Holi Festival of Colors on 4 March, Eid Al Fitr celebrations around 19 March and the Diwali Festival of Lights on 8 November are also noted for the year.

The full list of events gives residents and visitors a clear sequence of dates across multiple districts. The Discover Dubai 365 Facebook post presents the calendar as one of the city's most ambitious yet, with the listed festivals and fairs providing the main anchors.

People planning attendance can check official venue sites for ticket releases and programme updates as the dates approach. The concentration of events between January and April offers a focused window for those following the arts calendar in Dubai.

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