art week 2026

15–22 November 2026
Smouldering

‍Alserkal Art Week has consistently responded to the state of the world, and November 2026 is no different. The thematic Smouldering foregrounds the slow-burn, consistent resilience that has come to qualify our immediate time and mood. Smouldering is both the silent byproduct of some irruption, yet continues to be active, holding a generative potential just waiting to be revived.In this latently intense atmosphere, at the heart of the programme is a landmark exhibition at Concrete, presented in partnership with Barjeel Art Foundation, celebrating women modernists from the Arab world and their contributions to the region's artistic and cultural landscape. The week unfolds through 17 new gallery exhibitions, Majlis Talks curated by Egyptian artist Moataz Nasr, and a moving image takeover of The Yard screens by the Chanel Culture Fund. Among the guest projects, Promises and Scars brings together five decades of work by Sliman Mansour, one of the most significant figures in modern Palestinian art. Presented by George Al Ama and Fann À Porter. Explore the programme and discover the artists, ideas, and conversations shaping this edition of Alserkal Art Week.

Programme Highlights

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‍Women Modernists from the Arab World
‍Presented in partnership with Barjeel Art Foundation and curated by Suheyla Takesh and Rémi Homs, this exhibition celebrates the pioneering practices of women who shaped Arab modernism. Featuring works from the Barjeel Art Foundation by Fahrelnissa Zeid, Samia Halaby, Inji Aflatoun, Etel Adnan, and others, the exhibition explores their responses to social and political transformations and their contributions to modern art.

‍Sharing the Sensitive
‍Majlis Talks curated by Moataz Nasr
‍Curated by Egyptian artist Moataz Nasr, this edition of Majlis Talks brings together Simon Njami, Julie Banatre, and Jenny Mbaye in a conversational roundtable exploring art, resistance, memory, and community beyond dominant Western perspectives.

‍Promises and Scars
‍Works by Sliman Mansour from the 1970s—2020s
‍Presented by George Al Ama and Fann À Porter, Promises and Scars brings together five decades of work by Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour, tracing his artistic practice from the 1970s to the 2020s.

‍Chanel Culture Fund: Fracture — The Window
The Chanel Culture Fund takes over The Yard screens with Fracture: The Window, a presentation of moving image works exploring shifting landscapes of identity, memory, and experience through contemporary digital art.

‍Gallery ExhibitionsAcross Alserkal Avenue
‍Discover 17 new exhibitions across the Avenue's contemporary art galleries, bringing together diverse artistic practices and perspectives from the region and beyond.

‍More to Explore
‍The programme also features guest projects including The Temple Manuscripts by Russell Watson, presented by the Barbados Museum, and shortlisted artists from this year's Art Circle Award.The closing weekend, 21–22 November, brings film screenings by Cinema Akil, slow art walks, and gallery tours for children.