From ancient games and maritime trade to contemporary art and heritage preservation
If you thought museums were all about quietly staring at paintings, Louvre Abu Dhabi’s newly announced 2026–2027 season would like a word.
The museum is serving up a year packed with stories of adventure, trade, creativity and resilience, taking visitors from the game boards of ancient civilisations to the bustling maritime highways of the Indian Ocean, before landing firmly in the world of contemporary art and heritage preservation.
First up, from 18 July, the Children’s Museum launches ‘A Board Game Adventure’, and honestly, who doesn’t love a good game? But this exhibition goes way beyond family game night.
Visitors will discover how classics like chess, ludo, carrom and mancala travelled across continents, evolved through different cultures and became part of everyday life for millions of people.
Featuring objects from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia alongside pieces from around the world, it’s a reminder that humans have always loved a little healthy competition.
Then things get even more exciting in October with ‘Spices and Wonders: Sailing the Indian Ocean’.
Developed with France’s National Museum of Asian Arts – Guimet, the exhibition dives into one of history’s greatest stories of global connection.
Long before airports and container ships, merchants, sailors and explorers were criss-crossing the Indian Ocean, carrying spices, textiles, ceramics and ideas between Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
You can think of it as the original global network, only with far more adventure and considerably less Wi-Fi.
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November brings back one of the museum’s most anticipated contemporary art events: ‘Art Here 2026’ and the Richard Mille Art Prize.
This year’s theme, ‘Confluences’, explores the ways cultures, histories and migrations continue to shape who we are today.
Artists from across the GCC and India will showcase works that challenge, inspire and start conversations, exactly what great contemporary art should do.
Rounding out the season is ‘Living Legacies. Protecting Heritage. Building Hope’, an exhibition created with the ALIPH Foundation.
It shines a spotlight on the people working behind the scenes to protect cultural heritage in some of the world’s most fragile and challenging environments.
It’s a powerful reminder that preserving history isn’t just about protecting old buildings and artefacts; it’s about protecting identity, memory and community.
And as always, the exhibitions are just the beginning, so expect curator talks, workshops, film screenings, performances, family activities and plenty of opportunities to dive deeper into the stories behind the objects.
Taken together, Louvre Abu Dhabi’s latest programme feels like exactly what the museum does best: connecting cultures, sparking curiosity and reminding us that, despite the distances between us, our stories have always been more intertwined than we think
If this season is anything to go by, there will be plenty worth exploring over the coming year.
Key dates to remember
18 July 2026 – A Board Game Adventure opens
14 October 2026 – Spices and Wonders: Sailing the Indian Ocean opens
11 November 2026 – Art Here 2026 & the Richard Mille Art Prize opens
25 November 2026 – Living Legacies. Protecting Heritage. Building Hope opens
AED70 for adults, kids under 18 go free. For further information, visit louvreabudhabi.ae
