Louvre Abu Dhabi announced the opening of ‘A Board Game Adventure’ at its Children’s Museum on July 18, 2026, as part of its summer programming. The exhibition targets young visitors and explores the movement of popular board games across regions over time. According to the museum’s website, the display uses immersive spaces and playful design to highlight why play remains central to human experience.
The show examines games including chess, mancala, ludo and carrom that have travelled across continents and brought people together, the museum reported. A British Museum assessment identified the Royal Game of Ur from ancient Mesopotamia as the oldest playable board game in the world, dating back around 4,600 years. Louvre Abu Dhabi figures show the exhibition will incorporate some of the earliest known examples from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia alongside items from its permanent collection.
Extraordinary loans from museums around the world will feature in the exhibition, according to Louvre Abu Dhabi. These objects complement artifacts already held by the institution and illustrate shared cultural histories through play. The museum’s description places the displays at children’s eye level to encourage direct engagement with the material.
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Children’s Museum previously hosted ‘Picturing the Cosmos’, an interactive exhibition that took families on a journey blending art and science, a museum overview stated. Another earlier show, ‘Travelling Shapes and Colours’, examined artistic traditions that moved between cultures, the venue reported. Such family-focused programming has formed a consistent part of the museum’s offerings since its dedicated children’s wing opened to the public.
A special conversation with exhibition curators is scheduled for the opening day on July 18, Louvre Abu Dhabi announced. The talk will celebrate the new display and provide additional context on its development. The museum’s summer calendar also includes related workshops and activities inspired by the board game themes.
The Children’s Museum occupies a purpose-built space within the Jean Nouvel-designed complex on Saadiyat Island, according to Louvre Abu Dhabi documentation. It forms part of the wider institution that has welcomed millions of visitors since opening in 2017. Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi figures position the venue as a hub for cross-cultural understanding through art and education.
