DUBAI – The 14th edition of the Sikka Art & Design Festival has inaugurated a groundbreaking cultural experience within the historic Al Shindagha district, reimagining traditional heritage houses as provocative artistic venues. Organized under the patronage of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and spearheaded by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, this year’s festival adopts the visionary theme “Imagining Dubai: Identities of the Future.”
Breaking from conventional exhibition formats, Sikka 2026 presents itself as a sequence of immersive encounters rather than a traditional art display. The festival showcases an impressive assembly of creative talent, featuring over 450 artists and creatives who present nearly 250 distinct artworks distributed across 16 meticulously curated heritage houses. Each venue offers a unique narrative that contributes to Dubai’s evolving cultural dialogue while engaging with global contemporary art discourses.
Among the most compelling installations is the Gulf House, curated by Yara Ayoub, which adopts an unusually focused approach by dedicating the entire space to a single work titled “Headache.” This installation deliberately eschews comfort, employing multi-sensory elements including disorienting soundscapes, intense lighting, and repetitive visual motifs to recreate the escalating sensation of cranial pressure. Ayoub explains the conceptual foundation: “The work reflects a shared mental state—the constant pressure, noise, and exhaustion that characterize modern existence. It demands visceral engagement rather than passive observation.”
Making its debut this year is the International House, which spotlights Japanese aesthetics under the curation of Kotaro Watanabe. Drawing inspiration from wabi-sabi philosophy and the writings of Okakura Kakuzo, the space embraces imperfection and transience. Rooms appear intentionally unfinished, inviting visitors to complete the artistic experience through their own imagination. A particularly notable installation features a three-dimensional representation of “yesterday’s sky” created through an innovative process that transforms photographs of Dubai’s atmosphere into cloud-like formations printed using plant-based milk and natural materials. These delicate structures gradually dissolve within hours, leaving behind potable water—a poetic meditation on memory’s ephemeral nature.
The Ceramics House, curated by Kamal Al Zubaidi, explores clay as a medium for cultural storytelling and experimentation. The space presents works by both established Emirati artists and emerging talents, including participants from the “Young Emirati Potters” program at Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children. The exhibition demonstrates ceramics’ versatility through sculptural pieces, functional objects, and innovative techniques, complemented by a dedicated market featuring independent studios and works by artists of determination.
Through its innovative programming, Sikka 2026 establishes itself as a significant platform for cultural exchange and artistic innovation, transforming Dubai’s historical architecture into dynamic spaces that challenge conventional artistic experiences while preserving and recontextualizing the city’s rich heritage.