Great Jamaican vibes and a good bill of yet-to-hit-the-big-time-so-you-can-say-you-saw-them-first standups (among them Nadim Basnan, Noha Jadallah, Andrea Brooks, Joshua-John Dias, Jed Dawson). The entrance price includes two free drinks, which you were probably going to buy anyway ... And after [ ... ]
The Fridge's series of showcase concerts continues with a Dubai-does-Scotland vibe. Headlining are The Elidas, twins Venice and Belle, who do lo-fi Scottish indie-folk with great harmonies and strong original material – a new single is promised for this gig [ ... ]
Adrian Pepe’s poetic meditation on fragmentation and renewal gets an extended run at NIKA Project Space. It uses a monumental 200m2 woollen textile piece that previously wrapped a building damaged in the 2020 Beirut Port explosion to highlight the relationship [ ... ]
The UAE’s biggest and best literary event is back at the newly renovated InterContinental Dubai Festival City, with the usual cornucopia of writers, creators and thought leaders – a total of around 150 events. That's slightly fewer than usual, and [ ... ]
Throughout history, nature has shape artistic expression across cultures. Persian carpets exemplify this influence, transforming the beauty of gardens and delicate blossoms into intricate designs. These motifs are deeply woven into Iranian craftsmanship, creating timeless works that connect the human [ ... ]
A chance to see work from the last four decades by Dale Chihuly, undoubtedly the world's best-known glass artist. Synthesising ideas and practices of the Studio Glass movement in North America with the traditions of the Venetian glass ateliers, Chihuly’s [ ... ]
Buyruk is known for her intricate and otherworldly creations, she has long explored the themes of harmony and individuality in nature. This new body of work, however, takes a more introspective turn, reflecting on the barriers that humans create within [ ... ]
An exhibition of ten works by the influential Khor Fakkan artist, one of the “Pioneer Five” who bolstered the contemporary art scene in the UAE in the 1980s and influenced a generation of artists in the region. Curated by Tarek [ ... ]
Alla Abdunabi’s first solo exhibition presents a new body of work that critiques and engages with simulacra, a concept used in philosophy and cultural studies to analyse how symbols shape our perceptions of what is accepted as “real.” The work [ ... ]
An interesting idea – five dancer/choreographers (Omar Rajeh, May Bou Matar, Anani Sanouvi, Koen Augustijnen, Jihun Choi) and four musicians (Ziad El Ahmadie, Samir Nasr Eddine, Youssef Hbeisch, Afif Merhej) meet onstage over a banquet. Bringing different artistic experiences and [ ... ]
The latest edition of what is being presented as one of Dubai Culture's flagship initiatives is back in Al Shindagha Historic District. We're not sure exactly what you'll get this year – the website wasn't working when last we tried [ ... ]
The rebranding of Custot Gallery Dubai to Waddington Custot Dubai is coming up trumps with some big names (the partnership of long-time London art dealer Leslie Waddington, and French dealer Stephane Custot dates back to 2010, and Custot became sole [ ... ]
Stephen Sondheim's multi award winner arrives for a week-long stint at Dubai Opera. The tale of a barber whose life was destroyed by betrayal and sets on a path to bloody vengeance is punctuated by dark humour, shocking plot twists, [ ... ]
FLEX* is a talking and listening game created by Manila-based curatorial and research initiative Load na Dito; participants explore the meaning of words based on personal experiences while moulding clay. Inspired by the city’s ubiquitous gift shops, the accompanying installation will [ ... ]
A solo exhibition of new paintings by the Iranian artist. “As an artist from the Middle East,” says Bayani, “the concept of liberation often seems distant and unattainable. Yet, when I look at nature, I am able to imagine a [ ... ]
Artist duo Bik Van der Pol (Liesbeth Bik and Jos Van der Pol) engage in collaborative projects on how art constructs public spaces for speculative thought and collective creativity. The poem that jumps the fence features weekly performances on Abu [ ... ]
Rimini Protokoll pushes the boundaries of conventional theatre. During this performance walk within the collective’s ‘Remote X’ series (2013–ongoing), you are invited to explore the growing presence of artificial intelligence in future cities; for this tour, designed specifically for Abu [ ... ]
Exactly what it says: a regular Monday evening of scenes, stories and narrative improvisation influenced by audience suggestions and featuring the Courtyard Playhouse's most experienced improv performers plus guests. Classic Courtyard improv. It's free, but you need to put your [ ... ]
A solo exhibition for an artist only recently signed by Ayyam Gallery. This large body of work, an exploration of the fragile relationship between the human form and the forces that shape it, re-imagines the human form as figures that [ ... ]
Shah draws inspiration from Agha Shahid Ali’s poem, The Dacca Gauzes – “Those transparent Dacca gauzes / known as woven air, running / water, evening dew: / a dead art now, dead over / a hundred years”. Says the artist: [ ... ]
This first solo show by Shama Al Hamed, curated by Walter Williems, features a collection of paintings, sculptures, and installations that offers insight into the formative experiences and emotions that have shaped the artist's creative practice and artistic perspective. Says [ ... ]
Nour Malas’ solo exhibition starts with Hannah Arendt's quote about the Nazis' unconscionable acts of genocide: they were not exceptional but part of a wider belief that estimated some human lives as disposable. For Malas, displacement upheaves feelings of belonging; [ ... ]
Through film, photography, and sculpture, Tawakol reclaims the female body as a site of creation and resistance, reflecting on motherhood and the complex layers of identity. This exhibition’s centrepiece is a three-channel video made from stitched Super-8 film fragments (1960s–1980s) [ ... ]
The Fridge's series of showcase concerts features the super-talented Zeina Aftimos – a Syrian-Greek singer who draws inspiration from the Shaabi music of the Levant, adds a contemporary style, and sings in Arabic, French, and English, Supporting comes as Arabic [ ... ]
The Dubai debut exhibition for the London based Nigerian-British artist whose paintings depict a vibrant dialogue between myth, memory, and the sea. In this new series the artist draws on her own holiday experiences while referencing the Yoruba water deity [ ... ]
More 100 artworks by the Palestinian artist collective Eltiqa, Eltiqa (Arabic for “encounter”) is an artist collective from Gaza City founded in 2000. Eltiqa members have developed artistic practices together – including the setting up of a dedicated exhibition and [ ... ]
A L'ÉCOLE Middle East talk that exploring the world of pearls, given by two of the School of Jewelry Arts' lecturers – gemologist Chandra Horn and art historian May El Hage.
“Cinema has a fascination with sexist violence. We like to see women suffer, getting kidnapped or raped,” said Avdija in a Variety interview. These are the scenes the stuntwomen protagonists of her telling documentary – Virginie Arnaud, Petra Sprecher and [ ... ]
Accolades like "accomplished singer/songwriter" and "talented musician" are bandied about all too easily; Mary Gatchell really does seem to deserve them. Here's a partial CV: A graduate of NYU with a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Theory and Composition [ ... ]
The Courtyard's most peopular evening of elimination improv. Ten actors converge for a night of scenes, songs and games based on audience suggestions. After each round you score the players on a scale of 1 to 5, and the one [ ... ]
Curated by Alia Swastika, Amal Khalaf, Megan Tamati-Quennell, Natasha Ginwala and Zeynep Öz, Sharjah Biennial 16 features works by more than 190 participants, including over 200 new commissions. The SB16 Opening Programme weekend, which runs at locations in Sharjah City, [ ... ]
Riken Yamamoto, winner of the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize, will talk about the transformative power of architecture in shaping communities via key themes such as sustainability, intergenerational living, human-centred design, and the integration of public and private spaces. Drawing from [ ... ]
We love this idea, and it's just the sort of thing that we'd hope for from an arts centre like 421. It's a writers’ group intended for writers to practice their craft without the pressures of producing a final outcome, [ ... ]
"A Grapes of Wrath for our time” said critic Roger Ebert of this lovingly rendered, heartbreaking story of hope and survival. After their family is murdered by the government during a civil war massacre in Guatemala, brother and sister Enrique [ ... ]
A group show of works by Ludmilla Radchenko, Rachel K (above), Ihab Ahmad, Laurent Perbos, Yana Abramova and Samuele Ventanni curated by Celine Azem. The aim is to explore how colour extends beyond visual experience, "shaping memory, emotion, and perception [ ... ]
Over the course of a parent/teacher conference, a grieving mother and an emotionally overwhelmed primary school teacher have a fraught conversation about the tragic suicide of the mother’s son. Gidion may have been bullied – or he may have been [ ... ]
The New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1972; the charismatic Japanese conductor, Yutaka Sado, has been the music director since 2023 and he conducts two concerts to open the 2025 Abu Dhabi Festival. In this first concert, star tenor [ ... ]
The acclaimed singer and composer known for blending MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) with jazz and contemporary influences continues to be a leading figure in contemporary Brazilian music. For this two-night residency, the top British jazz singer Emma Smith provides the [ ... ]
Two further performances (at 2pm and 8pm) for this powerful two-hander by Johanna Adams. Over the course of a parent/teacher conference, a grieving mother and an emotionally overwhelmed primary school teacher have a fraught conversation about the tragic suicide of [ ... ]
Dilyara Kaipova's practice is located at the intersection of folk artisan traditions and contemporaneity; she works with Uzbek textiles, employing centuries-long traditions to make work that is relevant to the socio-cultural and ecological issues of the region. To 8 April.
FLEX* is a talking and listening game created by Manila-based curatorial and research initiative Load na Dito; participants explore the meaning of words based on personal experiences while moulding clay. Inspired by the city’s ubiquitous gift shops, the accompanying installation will [ ... ]
In the second concert for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Festival with the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yutaka Sado, the orchestra plays Yasushi Akutagawa’s Triptyque for Strings and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5. The soloist is the young rising star Kyohei [ ... ]
Comedy from the coolest Chinaman in town at what he calls "the coolest gallery café in Dubai" for "a night of stand-up, good vibes, and unfiltered laughs". DM seven_chinaman on Instagram for a reservation.
Second of two nights at this top jazz lounge venue for the acclaimed Brazilian singer and composer. The top British jazz singer Emma Smith provides the support.
The final performances (at 2pm and 8pm) for this powerful two-hander by Johanna Adams. Over the course of a parent/teacher conference, a grieving mother and an emotionally overwhelmed primary school teacher have a fraught conversation about the tragic suicide of [ ... ]
An exhibition of masterpieces from the Post-Impressionist period that is organised into in nine sections, each celebrating both the individual styles and the shared themes that connect this transformative era in art – visitors can follow paths dedicated to Neo-Impressionism, [ ... ]
Artist duo Bik Van der Pol (Liesbeth Bik and Jos Van der Pol) engage in collaborative projects on how art constructs public spaces for speculative thought and collective creativity. The poem that jumps the fence features weekly performances on Abu [ ... ]
Warwick Davis stars as Willow Ufgood in this Tolkien-ish family-friendly mix of fun, fantasy and action; the diminutive Willow teams up with a wandering rogue swordsman (Val Kilmer) to protect a baby princess who has miraculously fallen into his care. [ ... ]
Rimini Protokoll pushes the boundaries of conventional theatre. During this performance walk within the collective’s ‘Remote X’ series (2013–ongoing), you are invited to explore the growing presence of artificial intelligence in future cities; for this tour, designed specifically for Abu [ ... ]
Rimini Protokoll pushes the boundaries of conventional theatre. During this performance walk within the collective’s ‘Remote X’ series (2013–ongoing), you are invited to explore the growing presence of artificial intelligence in future cities; for this tour, designed specifically for Al [ ... ]
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