The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and Frieze revealed the list of participants for the fair’s first edition on August 27, 2026. Around 43 percent of the galleries maintain locations in the SWANA region, accounting for 36 of the total exhibitors. The selection pairs these regional participants with leading international dealers to mark the event’s entry onto the global stage.
According to the exhibitor lineup published by Frieze, regional participants include Carbon 12 and The Third Line from Dubai, Dastan from Tehran and Toronto, Gypsum from Cairo, Loft Art Gallery from Casablanca, and Sfeir-Semler Gallery from Beirut and Hamburg. These join international names such as Gagosian, Pace Gallery, Thaddaeus Ropac, Victoria Miro, Galleria Continua, and Perrotin, which opened a space in Dubai in 2022. The fair will feature a Focus section offering solo or dual presentations by emerging artists with experimental practices.
Frieze Abu Dhabi evolves from Abu Dhabi Art, whose final edition under that name in November 2025 drew a record more than 140 galleries from 37 countries, The National reported. That event included dedicated sectors on Nigeria, Türkiye and the Gulf, while adding first-time participants from Algeria, Senegal, the Netherlands, Peru and Tanzania. The transition incorporates Frieze’s established network from fairs in London, New York, Seoul and other cities.
An ARTnews report detailed that the 84 galleries represent 63 cities across the 36 countries. The inaugural edition will take place at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, the same venue used by its predecessor. Organizers have maintained the event’s emphasis on discovery and dialogue established over nearly two decades of Abu Dhabi Art.
The published list further includes A.Gorgi Gallery from Tunis, Ab-Anbar from London, Saleh Barakat Gallery from Beirut, Athr with spaces in Jeddah, AlUla and Riyadh, and Ayyam Gallery from Dubai. Additional participants encompass Baró Galeria with locations in Paris, Abu Dhabi and Palma de Mallorca, BüroSarıgedik from Istanbul, and Experimenter from Kolkata and Mumbai, according to the Frieze announcement. This mix highlights both modern and contemporary works alongside specialized presentations.
The partnership between the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and Frieze was announced in October 2025, with the 2025 Abu Dhabi Art edition proceeding as planned before the rebrand. Deutsche Bank will continue its role as global lead partner for the fair. Gallery applications for the 2026 edition closed at the end of March, with selections made by a Frieze-convened committee.
