Abu Dhabi, UAE — 19–22 November 2026
A new chapter is unfolding in Abu Dhabi's cultural landscape as the city prepares to welcome the first edition of Frieze Abu Dhabi, bringing one of the world's leading contemporary art fair platforms to the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District.
Taking place from 19 to 22 November 2026 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, the inaugural fair brings together more than 80 galleries from across 37 countries and regions, creating a meeting point for international artistic practices and the cultural voices shaping West Asia, North Africa and South Asia.
Developed in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Frieze Abu Dhabi builds on the foundations of the emirate's former Abu Dhabi Art fair while introducing a new international platform for artistic exchange, discovery and dialogue.
What makes this first edition particularly significant is its commitment to placing regional artistic histories within a broader global conversation. Rather than presenting the region as a separate cultural category, the fair brings its artists and galleries into dialogue with international practices, connecting different generations, geographies and artistic traditions.
The programme is organised around several curated sections, including Galleries, Focus, Frieze Masters Abu Dhabi and Global Futures. Together, they explore artistic production across different periods, from historical works and pioneering modern figures to emerging contemporary voices.
Among the regional artists taking centre stage are Farideh Lashai, Ibrahim El-Salahi, Mounirah Mosly, Abdullah Al Saadi and Imran Qureshi. Their practices reflect the richness and diversity of artistic expression across the region, drawing on painting, installation, textiles, memory and cultural heritage.
One of the most anticipated contributions comes from Lebanese artist Dala Nasser, who has been selected for the inaugural Frieze Abu Dhabi Artist Award. Her new site-specific commission will transform the fair's central atrium into an artistic environment, bringing her material-driven practice into conversation with the architecture of the space. The project is curated by Nabila Abdel Nabi.
Beyond the main exhibition, Frieze Sculpture Abu Dhabi, presented by Aldar, extends the programme into the public realm with five large-scale works at Mamsha Beach on Saadiyat Island, beginning on 16 November. A three-day talks programme will also bring together artists, gallerists, collectors and cultural leaders to discuss the evolving role of art in contemporary society.
The fair arrives at a particularly important moment for Abu Dhabi. With the Saadiyat Cultural District continuing to develop as an international cultural destination, Frieze adds another dimension to the city's ambition to create lasting connections between artistic production, cultural institutions and global audiences.
Ultimately, the significance of this inaugural edition lies not simply in the arrival of an internationally recognised art fair, but in the conversations it can encourage. By bringing regional artistic histories into direct dialogue with international practices, Frieze Abu Dhabi offers an opportunity to reconsider how the Arab world participates in shaping contemporary art.
For Abu Dhabi, this is more than a new event on the cultural calendar. It is an invitation to become part of a wider artistic conversation, one in which the region is not merely represented, but actively contributes to defining what comes next.
