Art Dubai will adapt its forthcoming 2026 edition in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that has broken out since the US-Israel war in Iran.
According to an email sent from Art Dubai's organisers to its exhibitors, seen by The Art Newspaper, the fair's forthcoming 20th edition will be moved from mid-April to 14 to 17 May, and held at its usual site, Madinat Jumeirah.
The event will be "adapted" into a "cultural gathering". In the email, Art Dubai's director, Dunja Gottweis, says this edition will have a "more focused, curated, and flexible format, bringing together galleries, artists and institutions through a combination of presentations, collaborations and public programming". No further details on programming were given.
The funding model will also be adapted. According to the email, participating dealers for this edition will not be required to pay stand fees, but instead will be charged a percentage of the sales that they make, capped at the stand fee equivalent. Stand prices for Art Dubai 2026 are $739 per sq. m (plus VAT)—ranging from around $15,000 for a small stand, to around $60,000 for a large one.
Gallerists unwilling to participate in the 2026 edition will still be required to make a stand payment up front, which will be "rolled over" to the 2027 edition. For those who are wishing to participate in the 2026 edition but are unsure about travelling to the region, the fair is offering to present works shipped to Dubai "with support from the Art Dubai team".
The fate of Art Dubai's 20th anniversary edition has been unclear since the outbreak of war in the region in late February, as Dubai and the wider Gulf region remain under attack from Iranian missile strikes and drones. The UAE’s air defence has intercepted most of these, but only a few flights have been leaving and entering the country.
Art Dubai's email says that after careful consideration with stakeholders, the fair received “strong indications of support, particularly from the local collecting community”. In a statement to The Art Newspaper, an Art Dubai spokesperson adds: "We have remained in close dialogue with all our stakeholders and across these discussions, there remains a clear sense that maintaining the platform that Art Dubai represents is important for the wider cultural ecosystem."
The UAE has projected a vision of normalcy even in the third week of constant bombardment. Schools in the country have brought their Eid holidays earlier, and many expats have taken advantage of the timing and the availability of flights to leave on holiday or return to their home countries. Others have stayed and are both working from home and going to offices, and galleries have re-opened. However, the conflict between Iran and the US and Israel continues with no sign of abating.
The Art Newspaper understands that some international galleries and collectors have found it difficult to get shipping quotes, to confirm flights, and to gauge broader attendance.