The Sikka Art & Design Festival will return to Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood from January 23 to February 1, 2026. Organised by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the festival continues to serve as a key platform for contemporary art and design, set within one of Dubai’s most culturally significant historic districts.
The 2026 edition will feature artworks by Emirati, regional and international creatives, presented across a range of disciplines. This year’s theme, Imagining Dubai: Identities of the Future, reflects ongoing dialogue around the city’s evolving cultural identity and its future-oriented outlook.
Artworks will be displayed throughout the neighbourhood’s historic houses and open-air spaces, encouraging visitors to explore the area organically. A total of 16 houses will be activated as exhibition venues, with maps available to assist navigation.
The festival’s programme is shaped by a diverse group of curators, each overseeing a dedicated house and thematic focus. Their combined expertise spans visual art, design, technology, photography, culinary arts, ceramics, urban culture and academic research, contributing to a multidisciplinary festival experience.
The curatorial team includes Esra Ozkan (Art & Tech House), Ahlam Albannai (Photography House), Kotaro Watanabe (International House), Yara Ayoob (Khaleeji House), Ahmad Makary (Urban House), Kamal Alzoubi (Ceramics House), Saeed Alketbi and Majedah Alawadhi (Design House), Mozah Lootah (Public Art and Visual Art Houses), Alanood Bukhammass and Zena Adhami (Academic House), and Noura Alfalah (Culinary House).
Together, the curators present a range of practices and perspectives that support cultural exchange and highlight both local and international creative voices.
In addition to exhibitions, the festival will offer daily workshops and talks for adults and children, along with artistic performances, live music, a food market, supper clubs and a homegrown retail market supporting local creative businesses.
Commenting on the festival, Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, said:
“Sikka stands out for its integrated, community-led model that goes beyond the traditional exhibition format.”
She added: “It creates space for exploration, dialogue, and collaboration across disciplines, while strengthening direct engagement between artists, creative practitioners, and the public.”
The Sikka Art & Design Festival is open to the public and forms part of Dubai Culture’s ongoing efforts to support the creative economy and promote cultural engagement across the emirate.
