From AlUla to Beirut: The Art Exhibitions Defining Summer 2026
Middle East & North Africa | July 2026
This summer, galleries and cultural institutions across the Middle East and North Africa are presenting exhibitions that explore heritage, identity, history and the changing relationship between humans and the world around them. From ancient storytelling traditions to futuristic technology, these exhibitions reveal the many ways artists from the region continue to reshape cultural narratives.
“I Am a Rawi: Sharing Stories from AlUla”
UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France
Until August 31, 2026
Presented by the Royal Commission for AlUla, this photography exhibition brings the cultural heritage of AlUla to an international audience. The exhibition focuses on the Rawis, the traditional storytellers of AlUla who preserve the history of the region through oral narratives passed between generations.
Beyond documenting landscapes and archaeological sites, the exhibition highlights the people behind the stories, showing how memories, traditions and personal experiences become a living form of heritage. It also introduces interactive storytelling experiences inspired by UNESCO’s cultural initiatives.
“Human in the Loop” – Dr. Ahmad AlAttar
421 Arts Campus, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Until September 13, 2026
In his first institutional solo exhibition, Dr. Ahmad AlAttar explores the increasingly complex relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.
Combining his background in robotics and artistic practice, the exhibition creates an interactive environment where visitors experience how invisible technological systems influence attention, choices and daily decisions. Through sound, movement and participation, the work raises questions about human control in a world shaped by intelligent machines.
“Poetic Landscapes”
Gallery Tanit, Beirut, Lebanon
Until July 9, 2026
This group exhibition explores the emotional and symbolic connection between people and landscapes. Bringing together artists including Zena Assi, Ziad Antar, Rania Matar, Elger Esser, and Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige, the exhibition presents different interpretations of nature, cities and places shaped by memory.
Through painting, photography and mixed media, the works reflect on beauty, environmental transformation and the way landscapes carry personal and collective histories.
“Cross Scripts”
Lawrie Shabibi, Dubai, UAE
Until July 31, 2026
This exhibition explores the meeting point between contemporary art, architecture, design and traditional craftsmanship.
Featuring artists who reinterpret historical techniques through modern perspectives, the exhibition highlights how materials and handmade practices continue to influence contemporary creativity. Sculpture, jewellery, furniture and visual artworks come together to show that craftsmanship remains a powerful artistic language.
“As I Weep” – Lamia Joreige
Marfa’, Beirut, Lebanon
Until September 23, 2026
Through archives, maps, films and artistic interventions, Lebanese artist Lamia Joreige examines the historical period between the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of French and British mandates in the region.
The exhibition reflects on how political borders, conflicts and historical events continue to influence collective memory today. By combining historical documents with personal artistic interpretations, Joreige creates a dialogue between past and present.
“Tangerine Dreams”
Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE
Until September 18, 2026
Part of Ayyam Gallery’s summer program, this exhibition explores how a single colour can carry different meanings and emotions.
Using orange as its central theme, the exhibition brings together works that explore identity, nostalgia, landscapes and personal memories. Artists including Salma Alshaibi, Asaad Arabi and Abdalla Al Omari each interpret the colour differently, transforming it into a symbol of warmth, transformation and emotional expression.
“Where Memory Takes Place”
B7L9 Art Centre, Tunis, Tunisia
Until July 12, 2026
This photography exhibition presents stories by women documentary photographers from across the MENA region.
The works explore themes of displacement, resilience, belonging and personal identity, capturing experiences connected to migration, home and memory. The exhibition highlights how photography can preserve individual stories while reflecting wider social realities across the region.
“Summer Vibes”
Opera Gallery, Dubai, UAE
Until August 31, 2026
Bringing together modern masters and contemporary artists, this exhibition explores the evolution of artistic influence across generations.
Visitors can discover works by internationally recognized artists alongside contemporary voices, creating a conversation between different periods, styles and approaches to creativity. The exhibition highlights how art continues to transform while remaining connected to its historical foundations.
