Alserkal Avenue continues to deliver. Breaking from its traditional weekend format, Alserkal Art Week is expanding into a month-long celebration, running from 18 April to 18 May 2026 and serving as a collective expression of the resilience of the UAE’s arts ecosystem. By providing a platform for artists and cultural practitioners, the initiative aims to sustain connection and dialogue during this challenging time.
The programme features a diverse array of events, ranging from art exhibitions and installations to poetry readings by celebrated voices from across the region. To cap off the season, the closing week will feature a collaboration with Art Dubai 2026, showcasing commissions in partnership with the annual fair.
The month’s lineup draws inspiration from Shilpa Gupta’s Still They Know Not What I Dream, on view at The Yard. To mark the occasion, Gupta has also created Still A Sky We Hold, a special iteration of the installation that serves as the thematic foundation for the entire month’s programme. “Over the course of Alserkal Art Month, we will see 16 gallery exhibitions, 6 warehouse takeovers and a rich and diverse series of programmes brought to life in the Avenue,” explains Basmah El Bittar, Director of Alserkal Avenue. The weekly lineup will be revealed on Alserkal Avenue’s social media platforms.
The Alserkal Arts Foundation is also actively supporting the community through studio takeovers, reading groups with artist Chafa Ghaddar, and open studios with Alla Abdunabi and Maryam Ahli, while continuing to offer research grants to practitioners within its network.
Despite the rising temperatures, a visit to Alserkal Avenue is well worth it. Déjà Vu, a curated group exhibition running until 5 May, features artists from 18 of the UAE’s leading contemporary galleries. Curated by Kevin Jones, Nada Raza and Zaina Zaarour, the presentation explores historical cycles and the existential strain of repetition. Running alongside the exhibition, Nadine Khalil is hosting a series of Majlis Talks, fostering conversations on art and culture.
The closing programme, running from 12 to 17 May, features Moving, a curated selection of moving image works presented in collaboration with Art Dubai. These pieces will be screened both at The Yard and on-site at the fair, which takes place simultaneously at Madinat Jumeirah.
In times defined by lingering uncertainty, a meaningful distraction is always welcome. When that distraction arrives in the form of art and creative conversation, it promises to be a day enriched in more ways than one. Alserkal Art Month continues at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai until 18 May. Learn more
