In October 2026, Riyadh will emerge not just as a geopolitical and economic powerhouse, but as a capsule of global artistic ambition — hosting the Special Edition of the ARQA Art Fair, an event poised to redefine the Middle East’s role in the international art ecosystem. Why Riyadh — A Cultural Metropolis in the Making...
Mumbai: In a city globally celebrated for its colourful cultural identity, one of its most overlooked neighbourhoods is quietly redefining what art means and who gets to make it. The Govandi Arts Festival, founded by cultural practitioner Natasha Sharma, has emerged not just as an art event but as a bold cultural reckoning. It challenges...
(Image credit: Courtesy Alserkal Avenue) There’s a quiet but important shift happening in the global art and design world.Design Miami, one of the most influential fairs for collectible design, is officially launching its first Middle East edition in Dubai in early 2027, in partnership with Alserkal, the team behind Alserkal Avenue. For artists, designers, galleries...
There are cities that host art events, and then there is Mumbai – a city where art genuinely feels like part of everyday life.Art Mumbai 2025 has made that clearer than ever. It isn’t just a fair; it’s a statement that Mumbai truly appreciates and nurtures art and talent. For a few days, the city’s...
Art Mumbai’s third edition (13–16 November 2025 at Mahalaxmi Racecourse) turns the city into a conversation with 80-plus exhibitors, thousands of works, and a program designed for both discovery and depth. It’s a genuine meeting point where Indian stalwarts like Chemould Prescott Road, Vadehra, TARQ, and Gallery Espace stand shoulder to shoulder with global heavyweights...
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has set the tone for 2026.The third Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale opens January 30, 2026 in Riyadh’s JAX District with the title “In Interludes and Transitions (في الحِلّ والترحال)” a curatorial framework that foregrounds processions, migrations, and the transmission of culture. Led by Artistic Directors Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, the...
Qatar to Inaugurate the World’s First M.F. Husain Museum on November 28 A landmark moment for South Asian modernism is set for November 28, 2025, when Qatar Foundation opens Lawh Wa Qalam,M.F. Husain Museum at Education City, Doha, the first museum anywhere dedicated to the life, work, and philosophy of Maqbool Fida Husain (1915–2011). The...
Art Basel Lands in Qatar A Turning Point for the Middle East & South Asia Art Scene By [Asia Art Council Editorial Desk] For decades, Art Basel has been the gold standard for art fairs. Its name alone can shift an artist’s market trajectory, catapult a gallery into the global spotlight, and recalibrate collector interest....
Kochi Biennale Reinvents Itself as a Living Ecosystem A new era dawns on Kochi this December. Titled “For the Time Being”, the sixth Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) departs from tradition—curator Nikhil Chopra (with his Goa-based collective HH Art Spaces) is reimagining this esteemed festival not as a static art show, but as an evolving, breathing ecosystem...
Interior view of Art Dubai Digital 2025. Photo by Cedric Ribeiro. Courtesy of Art Dubai and Getty Images.