Louvre Abu Dhabi has revealed the six artists shortlisted for Art Here 2026. Their works will go on show from November 11 beneath the museum’s famous dome. This year, the annual exhibition and the Richard Mille Art Prize welcome Indian artists alongside creators from the Gulf for the first time. More than 300 proposals were submitted.
A Growing Platform for Regional Talent
Art Here launched in 2021 as a showcase for artists based in the UAE. Since then, its reach has widened step by step. North African artists became eligible in 2024, and Japan joined last year. Now, the sixth edition adds India. As a result, the exhibition has grown from a local showcase into a wider regional platform.
The Richard Mille Art Prize runs alongside the exhibition in partnership with the Swiss watchmaker. The winner receives $60,000. According to the museum, the winner will be announced later in the season.
The Theme: Confluences
The exhibition centres on the theme “Confluences.” It explores links between India and the Gulf, shaped by centuries of trade, migration and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean. Guest curator Kamini Sawhney, former founding director of the Museum of Art and Photography in Bengaluru, leads the edition. She describes the sea as a metaphor for a relationship regulated by winds that carried traders, scholars and migrants.
Meanwhile, the theme fits the museum’s wider season. Spices and Wonders: Sailing the Indian Ocean opens on October 14 and runs until February 14, 2027. Together, the two exhibitions look at the same waters through ancient objects and contemporary art.
Meet the Six Shortlisted Artists
Who Chose Them
A four-person jury made the selection. It includes Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa, an art collector and patron. Guilhem André, director of scientific, curatorial and collections management at Louvre Abu Dhabi, also sits on the panel. So does Maya Allison, founding executive director of the art galleries and chief curator at New York University Abu Dhabi. Sawhney completes the jury.
Sawhney said reaching a final selection was a challenge but also a privilege. According to her, the six artists impressed the jury with their willingness to innovate. Their approaches range from fragile assemblage to immersive installation. She hopes the exhibition will spark a lively and unexpected dialogue between very different works.
A Spectacular Setting
The location adds to the appeal. Jean Nouvel’s dome is among Abu Dhabi’s best-known landmarks. Its monumental scale gives artists room to experiment, and outdoor spaces expand the options further. Therefore, the works will have to respond to both the architecture and the theme.
Now, the six artists will develop their proposals into finished works before the opening. As a result, visitors will see new commissions rather than existing pieces.
Why It Matters
For the region’s art scene, the exhibition offers visibility on a global stage. In addition, the inclusion of India reflects real historical ties. Trade and migration across the Indian Ocean linked communities in the Gulf and South Asia for centuries. Contemporary art now picks up that story.
Planning Your Visit
Art Here 2026 runs from November 11 to February 28, 2027, at Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. Visitors can check the museum’s website for tickets and opening hours. Finally, follow the museum for news of the prize announcement.
