Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026 Festival Returns With An Immersive Creative Journey Inspired By “Civilizations”

Set within the historic walls of Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, the UAE’s last remaining intact Emirati pearling village, Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026 Festival celebrates the diversity of cultural forms and the shared aspirations that bind humanity together. Now in its 14^th edition, this year’s theme traces how ancestral voices and contemporary innovation shape creative expression across the UAE and beyond. Delivered as part of the Ras Al Khaimah Art initiative under the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, the festival forms part of a wider, year-round programme that supports local creative talent through grants, masterclasses, and workshops.

Building on the momentum of previous editions, Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026 Festival presents a month-long programme of exhibitions, performances, workshops, guided tours, film screenings, and curated culinary experiences, bringing together 106 artists from 49 nationalities alongside local, regional, and international partners. As Ras Al Khaimah’s flagship arts and culture event, the festival remains rooted in its distinctive setting within Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, highlighting the site’s position as one of the UAE’s most significant cultural heritage destinations.

Dr. Natasha Ridge, Executive Director, of Ras Al Khaimah Art, shared, “In line with the vision of the Ras Al Khaimah Art initiative, Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026 Festival was designed as a catalyst for dialogue and creative cultural exchange. This year’s expanded programme, alongside the launch of the Ras Al Khaimah Contemporary Art Biennale, marks an important moment in the festival’s ongoing evolution. Guided by the ‘Civilizations’ theme and taking place at Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, the festival reinforces Ras Al Khaimah’s growing role as a thriving cultural hub.”

Civilizations: Under the Same Sky

Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026 Festival is a tribute to the evolution of cultures and the creative legacies they leave behind. This year’s theme travels through the ancient Silk Road routes that once connected Ras Al Khaimah to the globe and the modern metropolises defining today’s global landscapes, examining how artistic expression has flourished across generations. Through exchange, imagination, and collective memory, the event reveals how civilizations take shape and how plurality continues to act as a catalyst for creativity across art, architecture, philosophy, science, and governance.

This year’s event will once again offer an unparalleled contrast of global contemporary arts and Emirati cultural heritage alongside a dynamic programme of workshops, tours, live music performances, and film screenings. Bringing the whole community together, each weekend centres around a unique theme: The Opening Weekend, January 16^th to 18^th, Family and Pet Friendly, January 23^rd to 25^th, Around the World, January 30^th to February 1^st, and Cultural Weekend, February 6^th to 8^th.

Ras Al Khaimah Contemporary Art Biennale

At the heart of the cultural happening is the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Contemporary Art Biennale. Curated by Sharon Toval, the month-long exhibition beautifully embodies this year’s theme, showcasing how cultures evolve, intersect, and leave creative legacies across time and place.

Guests can expect moments of quiet reflection and bold provocation, with works by Sutee Kunavichayanont and Stefano Cagol exploring the metaphysical, while photographers such as Hicham Benohoud and Marie Hudelot challenge perceptions of identity. Elsewhere, artists including Hannan Abu-Hussein, Sophy Abu Shakra, Kawita Vatanajyankur, and Francesca Fini reinterpret heritage, gender, and technology through textiles, performance, and AI.

The Hidden Table

This year’s festival adds another sensory layer to the creative journey with the launch of The Hidden Table. Blurring the lines between gastronomy and art, each week will see a different restaurant bring its signature taste to Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village. Serving up a world of bold flavours, highlights include flame-kissed creations by Portugal’s Chama, nostalgic Mediterranean classics crafted by Bungalo34, and inventive seasonal masterpieces by Newcastle’s Michelin-starred Restaurant Pine.

Guided Tours

Throughout the festival, guided tours offer a deeper way to experience Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026 Festival, weaving together food, art, and heritage. Guests can wander through the Old Town on a Food Tour that uncovers beloved local eateries and the stories behind them, or learn more about the narrative of this year’s exhibition on a guided Art Tour. Meanwhile, Heritage Tours through Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village bring the stories and architecture of the pearling village to life.

Performances & Film

Showcasing creative expression in all forms, live performances and film screenings will unfold across atmospheric settings within Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village and beyond. Music and movement take centre stage, featuring moments of soul and rhythm from Emirati vocalist AlMaydee, the electric blend of violin and beats from MadamDXB, and the quiet, theatrical storytelling of James SCARR’s mime performances. These sit alongside intimate monologues on civilizations by Alana Hicks and a richly textured musical set by Grammy-nominated composer Roger Ryan, while curated outdoor and indoor film screenings extend the conversation into cinema, offering space to see the theme through a different lens.

Workshops & Masterclasses

Workshops and masterclasses give visitors the chance to move beyond observation and become part of the creative process themselves, guided by artists and expert practitioners. Hands-on workshops explore traditional agriculture, Arabic calligraphy, light painting, fabric art, photography, and paper quilling, allowing participants to learn techniques rooted in heritage while experimenting with contemporary expression. Meanwhile, masterclasses delve deeper into specialised crafts such as enamelling, plaster tile making, Moroccan zellij, embroidery, and bookbinding, offering time to pause, reflect, and create meaningful, take-home pieces.

Mark your calendars for January 16^th for a celebration of art, culture, and community under a shared sky at Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026 Festival. Creating a space for dialogue, discovery, and connection against the storied walls of Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, each experience encourages reflection on where we come from and what we can create together. With more details yet to be revealed, stay tuned via www.rakart.ae.

When: From January 16^th to February 8^th

• The Opening Weekend: January 16^th to 18^th
• Family and Pet Friendly: January 23^rd to 25^th
• Around the World: January 30^th to February 1^st
• Cultural Weekend: February 6^th to 8^th.

Where: Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, Ras Al Khaimah

What: A month-long outdoor arts festival featuring exhibitions, performances, workshops, heritage tours, film screenings, and curated culinary experiences

Price: Experiences are priced individually