Being in Dubai translates to enjoying a lot of exciting activities you can never get tired of. The city has got more than enough to keep wetting your appetite, and this time, the lovers of food, culture, art, and anything good have got something coming their way. From January 16 to February 8, the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival will be hosted at the beautiful Al Jazeerah Al Hamra Heritage Village, bringing together people from all walks of life and diverse activities to enjoy.
Why You Need to Be There
The village transforms into a creative hub where people can meet, share their amazing stories, and bring their different ideas to life. It’s a space where you can let your imaginative and creative spirit roam, bringing to life your innermost desires and let the world be your canvas. Why can't you miss it? The art festival is absolutely free and promises a lot of excitement for guests. Now that you know why you should be there, let’s find out more of what awaits you at this event.
RAK Art 2026 Festival - The Exciting Theme for this Year
According to Gulfbuzz, the festival this year is doing something extraordinary. This year’s event is themed “Civilizations.” A creative way of saying that even though cities rise and fall, and stories may echo through the centuries, only art remains truly eternal.
The RAK Art festival 2026 is truly special as it explores civilizations and culture as pieces of our shared culture and identity, and how these shape how we live, think, and connect in today’s contemporary society.
From the ancient roads and buildings that made Ras Al Khaimah to today’s vast network of modern amenities and scenic landmarks, the festival seeks to tell the ever evolving story of human civilization using art as the medium for this human exchange. As the clock moves every second and time brings forth unprecedented changes, we might wonder what truly remains of our history and culture. Does culture remain consistent, dynamic, or blend with others to create a new identity for generations? This is a powerful question and a fundamental principle of human history that echoes through time.
RAK Art 2026 festival lets you and your loved ones explore the beauty of culture and history through art with a lot of other fun and exciting activities.
RAK Art Festival Experience: What to Expect from the Event
Visitors should expect a mix of activities from both local and international artists, films, talks and story sharing, creative installations, and hands-on creative experiences that deliver the finest moments of this beautiful event. Set in the background of the scenic and historic heritage village, the RAK Art 2026 location brings more life to the overall landscape of the festival. For every guest that will be in attendance, whether you pop in and out, or stay to enjoy the event until the very end, there’s a promise of something splendid and special for everyone.
For those planning to grace this auspicious event and also enjoy the abundant offerings of the city, a car rental online from Beno helps you to curate your itinerary. Having a rental car at your disposal allows you to plan, manage your time, and explore the beauty of the emirates.
Iconic Weekend Event Themes You Should Plan Attending
The art festival would be happening all month long with each day bringing its own unique vibes and inspiration while maintaining the same bubbling atmosphere the event started with. Some weekends are even more memorable with themed events lined up that you’ll want to plan around.
If you plan to be in attendance at the 2026 RAK Art festival, here are some themed weekends to take note of:
Opening Weekend (Jan 17-18): The event kicked off on a weekend and the big day was marked by major exhibitions, community celebrations, special performances and more.
Family & Pet-Friendly Weekend (Jan 23-25): As it’s popularly said, “art doesn’t discriminate,” and there’s no truer way to express this than to invite every member of the family, including our most beloved pets. Expect creative play areas and both family-and-pet-friendly workshops to deliver experiences etched in your memory for a long time.
Around the World Weekend (Jan 30-Feb 1): This weekend is special as it celebrates global culture through music, art and food, allowing guests to experience the beauty of cross-cultural creativity through international and local voices.
Cultural Weekend (Feb 6-8): To mark the end of this year’s RAK Art Festival, immersive and highly engaging experiences will be shared with a focus on the Emirati culture, oral histories, and regional storytelling. What a remarkable way to wrap up a cultural event right?
New Additions to the RAK Art Festival Worth Checking Out
The Hidden Table
Food is a part of cultural identity and “The Hidden Table” presents renowned global chefs to deliver well curated dining experiences that allow you to intimately experience cross-cultural delicacies and collaborations through your palate. The previous chapters have witnessed several award-winning chefs from South Africa, Brazil, and Australia, but this year takes it a notch further by introducing three unique dining experiences, including the event’s first Michelin-starred restaurant.
Price: AED 350
Contemporary Art Biennale
The first ever of its kind, this dives deeper into the event’s theme of “Civilizations” with its three powerful sub-themes:
- The Spirit Within (Spiritual)
- Under the Same Sky (Craft, AI, Heritage)
- Vision from the Source (Women)
This event has been curated to make you reflect, think, and deliver fresh perspectives about our world — where it’s coming from and in which direction it’s headed.
The Main Event: Civilizations Main Exhibition
At the very heart of the art festival is the “Civilizations Main Exhibition” designed for visitors to explore the balance between past and present, culture and innovation, and to give a fresh perspective of our world and perhaps what the future holds. The exhibition will feature works of both local and international artists, brought together by renowned Swiss photographer and curator, Alfio Tommasini.
Alfio Tommasini is the co-founder and director of Verzasca Foto Festival in Switzerland and is well recognized for his works across Latin America and globally. His work at the RAK Art 2026 festival seeks to explore the connection between people and the environment they live in. The idea? To understand how the interaction of people and environment shapes civilization, culture, and invariably history through the ages. It’s an event you really don’t want to miss!
RAK Art 2026 Ticket Prices & Extras
It might interest you to know, as earlier stated, that you can experience the fantastic offerings of this event for absolutely free! Yes, that’s right. So there’s no reason for you to miss out on these amazing lineups.
Here’s a list of some of the things you can enjoy for free:
- The first ever Contemporary Art Biennale
- Art installations and exhibitions
- Thematic weekends and live performances
- Cultural experiences and immersive tours
- Film screenings and family-friendly experiences
As for the extra experiences, you might have to pay just a little fee but they’re completely optional and do not reduce your chances of enjoying the events any less.
Extra experiences:
- Workshops: AED 50 per session
- Masterclasses: AED 100 per session
- The Hidden Table dining experience: AED 350
A 2026 Lineup You Should Never Miss!
2026 has got a lot of amazing lineups and unmissable events for people in the UAE, the RAK Art is one from many. If you’re in the UAE and looking to experience what cultural immersion truly feels like, this is surely the place to be.
There are also other cultural and art experiences to explore within the emirates like the art museums, souks and many more. For those seeking to experience the UAE, Beno rental services provide an opportunity to explore the vast offerings of the emirates conveniently.
FAQs
RAK Art 2026 will run from January 16 to February 8, 2026.
The art festival will be held at Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
Yes, entry is completely free but access to some events are paid.
Yes, absolutely. The event is both family and pet friendly. You can come along with your furry friends.
Yes, parking is available at the event location.
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