Dubai Culture has opened the applications for the 14th Sikka Art & Design Festival, which will be held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, from 23 January to 1 February 2026 in Al Shindagha Historic Neighborhood.
Dubai Culture invites creatives, both individuals and collectives from various art forms to apply, such as visual art, design, new media, photography, public art and installations, ceramics, performing arts, and urban culture. The festival, which is part of Dubai’s Quality of Life Strategy, welcomes submissions from music performers, workshop facilitators, panelists for talks and discussions, food market vendors and culinary specialists, as well as design and cultural retailers.
Applications will be accepted until September 15, 2025. Participants are required to submit work that reflect their perspectives and the richness of the local community and ensure that all pieces are new and have not been previously produced or displayed elsewhere.
Curating Culture
Dubai Culture & Arts Authority was launched on 8th March 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The Authority enables and develops the cultural and creative sectors in the emirate as the custodian entity, based on its cultural responsibility towards Dubai and to help define it in both a local and global context.
Under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, the Authority is committed to enriching the cultural scene of the emirate, firmly rooted in the heritage of the United Arab Emirates. It is working on building bridges of constructive dialogue between various civilizations and cultures to enhance Dubai’s position as a global center for art and culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.
The Authority is also committed to reviving Dubai’s history and highlighting the image of its contemporary cultural fabric through a series of innovative cultural initiatives, events and projects, as well as the cultural, historical and heritage assets it sponsors. This includes the management of five of the city’s notable heritage monuments, six museums, and eight branches of Dubai Public Libraries.
