Here’s What You Should Check Out at ISEA2026 Dubai
With exhibitions, talks, and academic courses exploring the intersection of art and science.
The 31st edition of ISEA2026 Dubai is about to take over the city. For 10 days, the electronic and emerging art fair will go from space to systems, with cultural exhibitions, workshops, and experiences exploring the theme of “ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data and Identity.”
For the first time, the event is structured around a hybrid format, hosting a citywide Artistic Programme and an Online Academic Programme. After receiving over 1,000 art submissions, the Artistic Programme brings a curation of shortlisted interactive installations, exhibitions, and live performances. These activations are set to take place across more than 20 venues in Dubai, such as The Foundry, ARTE Museum and Etihad Museum, while locations like Al Wasl Dome and Theatre of Digital Art will host more site-specific digital installations for an immersive experience.
Adding to the schedule, a handful of workshops will show how to create calligraphy, letter art and typography with digital tools, including Calligraphy to Code. The workshops feature discussions with local artists, so guests can explore how traditional art forms are evolving in real-world scenarios.
Expanding beyond its regional network, the academic arm comprises a series of panel talks and presentations focused on bringing humans closer to the networks that surround us. This will unfold in courses like Charting Constellations and Starlinked Worlds, as well as a cosmically attuned track called Celestial Dialogues. Alongside the courses, there is a specially curated Ecological Future Labs track that examines sustainable practices through critical thinking.
Speaking on the upcoming edition, Maitha Ali Al Blooshi, Director of the Emerging Arts Department at Dubai Culture, shared, “ISEA2026 Dubai brings together diverse disciplines and expertise, creating opportunities for art, research and technology to inform one another. Through collaboration and the development of artistic practice, it supports the growth and sustainability of the digital and emerging arts sector. It also provides a platform to explore how technology, imagination, knowledge and culture can come together to generate new ideas, artworks and creative approaches.”
Take a glimpse at what to expect from the art schedule in the gallery above.
Find out how to visit ISEA2026 Dubai by visiting the dedicated webpage.
