E-Paper
Sign In
From 'hidden table' to Silk Road: How RAK Art Festival takes visitors around the world
Workshops and masterclasses invite visitors to take part in creative processes, with hands-on sessions covering traditional practices such as Arabic calligraphy and embroidery
- PUBLISHED: Mon 5 Jan 2026, 2:29 PM
- By:
- Azza Al Ali
- Share:
Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival 2026 has returned to the historic Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village with an immersive programme inspired by the theme 'Civilisations', celebrating cultural diversity and the shared aspirations that bind humanity together.
Set within the UAE’s last intact Emirati pearling village, the festival is now in its 14th edition and traces how ancestral voices and contemporary innovation continue to shape creative expression across the UAE and beyond.
Recommended For You
Under the theme Civilisations: Under the Same Sky, the festival pays tribute to the evolution of cultures and the creative legacies they leave behind. The programme journeys from the ancient Silk Road routes that once connected Ras Al Khaimah to the wider world, to the modern metropolises shaping today’s global landscape, exploring how artistic expression has flourished across generations through exchange, imagination and collective memory.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels
The event once again brings together global contemporary art and Emirati cultural heritage, alongside a dynamic programme of workshops, guided tours, live music performances and film screenings.
Each weekend centres on a specific theme, beginning with the opening weekend from January 16 to 18, followed by a family- and pet-friendly weekend from January 23 to 25, the “Around the World” weekend from January 30 to February 1, and a Cultural Weekend from February 6 to 8.
At the heart of the festival is the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Contemporary Art Biennale, curated by Sharon Toval. The month-long exhibition reflects this year’s theme by examining how cultures evolve, intersect and leave creative legacies across time and place, with works ranging from quiet, metaphysical explorations to bold challenges of identity and perception.
Another new feature this year is The Hidden Table, which adds a culinary dimension to the festival. Each week, a different restaurant will present its signature cuisine within Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, blending gastronomy with the festival’s artistic programme.
Throughout the festival, guided tours offer visitors a deeper way to experience the event, weaving together food, art and heritage. These include food tours through the Old Town, guided art tours of the exhibitions, and heritage tours exploring the architecture and history of the pearling village.
Live performances and film screenings will also take place across atmospheric settings within Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village and beyond, showcasing creative expression through music, movement, theatre and cinema.
In addition, workshops and masterclasses invite visitors to take part in the creative process themselves, with hands-on sessions covering traditional practices such as Arabic calligraphy and embroidery, as well as contemporary disciplines including photography, light painting, and fabric art.
Delivered as part of the Ras Al Khaimah Art initiative under the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, the festival forms part of a wider, year-round programme that supports local creative talent through grants, masterclasses and workshops.
Building on the momentum of previous editions, the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival 2026 presents a month-long programme of exhibitions, performances, workshops, guided tours, film screenings and curated culinary experiences.
The programme brings together 106 artists from 49 nationalities, alongside local, regional and international partners, and remains rooted in its distinctive setting within Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, highlighting the site’s status as one of the UAE’s most significant cultural heritage destinations.
Dr Natasha Ridge, executive director of Ras Al Khaimah Art, said the festival was designed as a catalyst for dialogue and creative cultural exchange. She noted that the expanded programme, together with the launch of the Ras Al Khaimah Contemporary Art Biennale, marks an important moment in the festival’s ongoing evolution and reinforces Ras Al Khaimah’s growing role as a thriving cultural hub.
Azza Al Ali is a reporter from Ras Al Khaimah, dedicated to sharing stories that bring the community’s voices to life. She’s passionate about connecting with people and highlighting what truly matters to them.
