Art Dubai 2027 runs from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 April at Madinat Jumeirah, according to the fair's own site. As of 2 November 2026 no 2027 ticket prices are published. The last edition, on 14 to 17 May 2026, was free to attend, Khaleej Times reported, and drew more than 25,000 visitors on its public days. This guide covers the dates, tickets, what the fair shows, how to reach Madinat Jumeirah, Alserkal Avenue and Dubai Design Week, with a day plan that adds our Old Dubai walking tour, from $35.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Old Dubai Walking Tour — From $35 per person, 3-4 hours.
When is Art Dubai 2027?
From Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 April 2027 at Madinat Jumeirah, according to the fair's site. The 2026 fair was first reported for 17 to 19 April and was held on 14 to 17 May, so check the dates again before you book.
This guide also answers:
- Is Art Dubai free to enter?
- Where is Art Dubai held?
- What is Dubai Art Season?
Four places for art and culture around Art Dubai
#1
Art Dubai Fair at Madinat Jumeirah
The fair's site says it spotlights artists from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, with modern, contemporary and digital art, talks, performances and live music. It was founded in 2007 and has been held at Madinat Jumeirah, which the fair calls its home. The 2027 galleries and ticket details are not published yet, so check the fair's site.
#2
Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz
Alserkal Avenue is an arts district in Al Quoz. Its site lists about 16 ongoing exhibitions, the latest closing on 30 December 2026, and no upcoming events yet, as of 2 November. In 2026 it ran a five-week Alserkal Art Month that ended on 18 May, alongside the fair. The pages we read do not state an entry fee, so check each venue. Our Alserkal guide gives the details.
#3
Louvre Abu Dhabi
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a museum under a lattice dome on Saadiyat Island. It is open outside fair week, so it is a good second art stop on a longer trip. Our Abu Dhabi city tour, from $45 shared, visits the Grand Mosque, the BAPS Mandir and Heritage Village, not the Louvre, so read our Louvre guide if you want to go on your own.
#4
Burj Al Arab from the water
Madinat Jumeirah and our water-sports base at Umm Suqeim Fishing Harbour are both on the Jumeirah coast. The 30-minute jet ski ride to the Burj Al Arab is from $79 per jet ski, and two people can share one. You meet at the harbour 20 minutes before your slot, with no hotel pickup. It is a fast, warm-weather contrast to a gallery day.
Art Dubai 2027: the short answer
Art Dubai 2027 runs from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 April at Madinat Jumeirah. Those are the dates on the fair's own site. The site does not show 2027 ticket prices; it only points visitors to a registration link. As of 2 November 2026, treat the ticket price as unknown.
The last edition was free to attend. Khaleej Times reported that the 20th-anniversary special edition, held on 14 to 17 May 2026 at Madinat Jumeirah, was free to attend and supported by Dubai Culture. The fair's press release reported more than 25,000 visitors, the highest attendance on public days in its history. Do not assume the same terms apply in 2027; check the fair's site before you plan.
April is a good month for art and a hot one for walking outdoors, so plan the visit for the morning or the evening. Our Dubai in April guide gives highs of about 32-37°C.
Dates, venue and tickets at a glance
The table compares the next fair with the last one. The 2026 dates moved: The National first reported that fair for 17 to 19 April, and it was held on 14 to 17 May instead, so dates can change.
| Edition | Dates | Venue | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 edition | Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 April 2027 | Madinat Jumeirah | Not published; the fair's page links to a registration form |
| 20th edition, special edition | 14 to 17 May 2026 | Madinat Jumeirah | Free to attend (Khaleej Times); over 25,000 visitors on public days |
As of 2 November 2026. Sources: Art Dubai, Khaleej Times and The National.
Not every day is open to the public. In 2026 Khaleej Times reported that the fair opened with a special preview on 14 May, before the public days. Expect the same pattern in 2027, with an invited preview first, and check which days the public may enter when the schedule is published.
What the fair shows
Art Dubai calls itself the region's cornerstone art fair. Its site says it was founded in 2007 and features modern, contemporary and digital art alongside talks, performances and live music. For 2027, the fair lists five sections:
- Galleries: the main section, with contemporary and modern work.
- Zamaniyyat: in 2026 it focused on modernist movements from the 1950s to the 1990s, according to The National.
- Bawwaba: solo presentations of new work by emerging and mid-career artists.
- Art Dubai Digital: digital art, which The National described as in its fifth year in 2026.
- Art Dubai Extended: large-scale installations and public artworks, called Bawwaba Extended in The National's 2026 report.
The After Dark programme takes place on Fort Island, according to the fair's page. The list of 2027 galleries is not published yet; the site has an exhibitors page that will fill in. The fair is a place where galleries sell art, so you can look without buying; check the fair's photography rules before you take pictures.
Getting to Madinat Jumeirah
Madinat Jumeirah is on the Jumeirah coast, beside the Burj Al Arab. There is no Metro station on the beach road. The closest station is Mall of the Emirates, then a 10-15 minute taxi, as our Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab guide explains. Our taxis and Careem guide covers fares, and the Dubai Metro guide covers the Red Line.
The fair is inside a resort with shops and restaurants. The Souk Madinat Jumeirah guide covers the canal, the abra rides and the terraces with Burj Al Arab views. Expect more traffic on the public days, so leave early.
Alserkal Avenue and the wider art season
Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz is an arts district with galleries, cafes and a cinema in warehouse spaces. Its own site lists about 16 ongoing exhibitions, the latest closing on 30 December 2026, and its upcoming events section says "No items found" as of 2 November. In 2026, Khaleej Times reported a five-week Alserkal Art Month that grew out of Alserkal Art Week and signed off on 18 May, and a video art programme co-presented with Art Dubai on 14 May. Our Alserkal Avenue guide covers the district.
Dubai also uses the name Dubai Art Season. Khaleej Times described an earlier season as running from 1 February to 20 March, with the Sikka Art and Design Festival in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Art Dubai at Madinat Jumeirah and Alserkal events. We found no 2027 season calendar, and the dates of Alserkal's 2027 programme are not published. Our best museums guide ranks the museums you can visit between events.
Dubai Design Week: the autumn event
If your trip is before April, the nearest design event is Dubai Design Week at d3, from 3 to 8 November 2026. The festival site says it is free to attend. If you read this after 8 November, that edition is over, and the 2027 dates are not announced; our Dubai Design Week guide has the details and how to get to d3.
A day plan around Art Dubai
Art Dubai is not one of our tours, and we do not sell its tickets. These are practical ideas for the same part of the coast and for the rest of your trip.
- Morning: the fair, when it is coolest, then lunch at Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
- Afternoon: the sea. Our jet ski to Burj Al Arab is from $79 per jet ski for 30 minutes, or $140 for an hour that also reaches Atlantis. The base is Umm Suqeim Fishing Harbour, with no hotel pickup.
- Another day: the Old Dubai walking tour, from $35 per person, takes 3-4 hours through Al Fahidi, Al Seef and the souks. It is a heritage walk, and it suits a visitor who wants culture beyond the fair.
- Evening: the Burj Khalifa deck, from $55 per person. Tickets cannot be refunded or changed once issued, so fix the date first.
FAQ
When is Art Dubai 2027?
From Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 April 2027 at Madinat Jumeirah, according to the fair's site. The 2026 fair was first reported for 17 to 19 April and was held on 14 to 17 May, so check the dates again before you book.
Is Art Dubai free to enter?
The 2026 edition was free to attend, Khaleej Times reported, supported by Dubai Culture. The 2027 ticket details are not published as of 2 November 2026; the fair's page links to a registration form without prices. Check the fair's site.
Where is Art Dubai held?
At Madinat Jumeirah, on the Jumeirah coast next to the Burj Al Arab. The closest Metro station is Mall of the Emirates, then a 10-15 minute taxi. A taxi from Downtown or the Marina is the simpler option.
What is Dubai Art Season?
A name Dubai has used for a programme of art events around the fair. Khaleej Times described an earlier season as running from 1 February to 20 March, with Art Dubai, Alserkal events and the Sikka festival. No 2027 calendar is published yet.
Is Alserkal Avenue free to visit?
The Alserkal pages we read do not state an entry fee. Its site lists about 16 ongoing exhibitions, the latest closing on 30 December 2026, and venues set their own rules, so check each gallery or event before you go.
Is April too hot for an art fair in Dubai?
Highs are about 32-37°C in April, so midday is hot outdoors. Go in the morning or evening, take water and keep the afternoon for something in the shade or on the water. Mornings and evenings are pleasant.
Can I combine Art Dubai with a tour?
Yes. Our jet ski to Burj Al Arab is from $79 per jet ski from Umm Suqeim Fishing Harbour, on the same coast, and the Old Dubai walking tour is from $35 per person. Neither is part of the fair.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Old Dubai Walking Tour
It is the Dubai that is walked rather than driven: the Creek where the city began as a trading port, the restored wind-tower quarter and the souks that still trade spices and gold. A local guide tells the story along the way. The $35 walk includes the abra, Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water; the $55 option adds street-food tastings.
- Duration
- 3-4 hours
- Area
- Old Dubai: Bur Dubai and Deira
- Format
- Shared group walk
- Best for
- first-time visitors, food lovers and anyone who wants the old trading side of Dubai on foot
From $35 per person Full prepayment
View tour
Jet Ski to Burj Al Arab in Dubai
It is the Burj Al Arab from sea level, without a licence or previous experience: the instructor rides in front, stops at the landmark for photos and sends you the files after the ride, and two people share one jet ski at no extra cost. The 60-minute ride continues to Atlantis on the Palm, and a 2-hour ride is arranged on request for groups of 4 jet skis or more.
- Duration
- 30 minutes or 1 hour
- Area
- Jumeirah, Dubai
- Format
- Guided jet ski
- Best for
- couples, friends and first-time riders who want the Burj Al Arab from the water
From $79 per jet ski Full prepayment
View tour
Burj Khalifa Observation Deck
It is a ticket, not a guided tour: you pick the date and time slot, we book it and send the e-tickets on WhatsApp, and you make your own way to The Dubai Mall. Levels 124 and 125 suit most visitors; SKY adds Level 148 at 555 m with priority access, a multilingual host and refreshments. On request we also book Sky Views Observatory, The View at The Palm and Dubai Frame.
- Duration
- 1.5-2 hours
- Area
- Downtown Dubai
- Format
- Timed-entry ticket
- Best for
- first-time visitors, couples and families who want Dubai from the observation decks of the 828-metre Burj Khalifa
From $55 per person Full prepayment
View tour📚 Keep reading
Photos: Louvre Abu Dhabi — Francesco Bini, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).