Art Dubai has postponed its 20th anniversary edition in response to the US-Israel war in Iran. Originally scheduled to open on April 17, the fair will now take place from May 14–17 at its usual venue, Madinat Jumeirah, in a reworked format that organizers are billing as a “cultural gathering” rather than a standard art fair.​

Uncertainty has loomed over Art Dubai since missile and drone attacks across the Gulf began in late February. Iranian strikes have intermittently disrupted airspace and commercial flights in the UAE, complicating travel and logistics for galleries and collectors and prompting widespread rescheduling and cancellations.

In an email to exhibitors, Art Dubai director Dunja Gottweis said the 2026 edition will adapt its programming, shifting to a “more focused, curated, and flexible format, bringing together galleries, artists, and institutions through a combination of presentations, collaborations and public programming.”  

The fair is also revising its funding model to reduce upfront financial risk for exhibitors. Instead of fixed stand fees, participating dealers will be charged a percentage of sales, capped at the equivalent of their stand cost. Prices are set at USD 739 per square meter (plus VAT), ranging from around USD 15,000 for smaller booths to approximately USD 60,000 for larger ones.

Galleries opting out of the 2026 edition will still be required to pay their stand fees, with the amount credited toward the 2027 fair.​ For those unwilling or unable to travel to Dubai this May, Art Dubai is offering a remote participation option, with onsite staff presenting works shipped to the fair “with support from the Art Dubai team.” 

Organizers say that, after discussions with stakeholders, there is strong backing from the local collecting community and a shared conviction that keeping Art Dubai’s platform active remains critical for the wider cultural ecosystem, even as the regional conflict shows no sign of easing.