Art lovers, Sikka Art & Design Festival returns this January

Time to get lost once again at the Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood

If you love your museums, you’ll know how easily art can tug you in every direction until you’ve completely lost your sense of where you started. Sikka Art & Design Festival does the same thing, only under open skies at Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood. Here, you don’t follow signs to find your way back, you follow the low hum of abras and a quiet pull of instinct.

It’s one of those fixtures on the cultural calendar that art lovers look forward to year after year, and it returns once again from January 23 to February 1, 2026. Each edition brings a new theme, and this year’s, Imagining Dubai: Identities of the Future, reflects the city’s ever-forward gaze.

Visit and be enthralled by artworks from Emirati, regional and international creatives, each bringing their own unique style and talent. You won’t just see stunning canvases on the walls, but art showcased in various forms.

And this is exactly what visitors love about Sikka. There’s art in various corners that feel like dead ends, art atop of the historic rooftops, and even at times hanging above you – so don’t forget to look up. Again, let the instinct drive you, and don’t be afraid to get lost.

PS. If you don’t want to miss a thing, there are 16 houses to visit, and yes, maps to help nudge you along.

If you can’t help but feel your own creative spark surge, there are daily workshops and talks for both adults and children. Additionally, expect artistic performances, live music, a food market, supper clubs and a homegrown retail market.

Speaking on the festival, Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture stated, “Sikka stands out for its integrated, community-led model that goes beyond the traditional exhibition format.”

She adds, “It creates space for exploration, dialogue, and collaboration across disciplines, while strengthening direct engagement between artists, creative practitioners, and the public.”