Here's what to expect from Abu Dhabi's newest cultural event
It was huge news last year when it was announced that Abu Dhabi was getting its own edition of Frieze, one of the world’s leading international contemporary art trade fairs.
Presented by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Frieze, the initial line-up for the inaugural fair has now been revealed.
Spotlighting artists from the UAE, the wider region and around the world, alongside new commissions, exhibitions, public art and talks, there’s even large artworks coming to Mamsha Beach. Here’s what you can expect from the first Frieze Abu Dhabi.
When Is Frieze Abu Dhabi 2026?
Frieze Abu Dhabi will make its debut from 19 to 22 November 2026 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, bringing more than 80 galleries from 36 countries and regions to the UAE capital.
Frieze Abu Dhabi line-up
Making its mark on the Abu Dhabi cultural calendar, you can expect everything from local artists’ work to talks that will bring together artists, gallerists, art world leaders and collectors.
Frieze Abu Dhabi’s must-see commission
One of the headline moments will be Dala Nasser’s Qubbat Duris, winner of the inaugural Frieze Abu Dhabi Artist Award.
Inspired by a 13th-century monument near Baalbek in Lebanon, the site-responsive installation will combine timber, textile paintings, ash, clay and terracotta. The work explores memory, materials and the relationship between cultural heritage and landscapes under threat.
UAE Artists take centre stage
The new annual In Dialogue exhibition will bring two generations of UAE artists together.
Its first edition, At Another Meeting Point, will feature Mohammed Kazem and Alia Zaal, with the exhibition curated by Abu Dhabi-based Dirwaza Curatorial Lab.
Frieze Sculpture Abu Dhabi is coming to Saadiyat
Art won’t stay just inside the fair. Frieze Sculpture Abu Dhabi will transform Mamsha Beach on Saadiyat Island into an open-air art experience from 16 November to 16 December, presented Frieze Abu Dhabi’s Official Partner, Aldar.
Works by artists including Zeinab Alhashemi, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Imran Qureshi and Kamran Samimi will explore everything from ecology and materials to the relationship between natural and urban environments.
Frieze Abu Dhabi talks
The fair will also host conversations with artists, curators, museum leaders and patrons.
Early highlights include Building the Global Museum on 19 November and Curating Across Knowledge Systems on 20 November. The full talks programme will be announced in October.
How to attend Frieze Abu Dhabi
Frieze Abu Dhabi will be a ticketed event, and you can now secure early bird tickets via the official website. Single day tickets are currently AED 36.75, while multi-day access tickets cost AED 173.25.
With international galleries, major new commissions and a strong focus on artists from the UAE and region, Frieze Abu Dhabi is set to bring a new global art moment to the capital this November.
19–22 November 2026, Manarat Al Saadiyat. Frieze Sculpture Abu Dhabi, 16 November–16 December 2026, Mamsha Beach, Saadiyat Island, friezeabudhabi.com
