Dubai hosts ISEA2026 digital art symposium until 15 November

The 31st International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art, known as ISEA2026 Dubai, opened this week and runs until 15 November, according to the Dubai Media Office. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, inaugurated the event.

What is on offer

The symposium is built around the theme "ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data, and Identity". Its centrepiece is an interactive show, also called ELYAH, staged at ARTE MUSEUM Dubai. The show combines light, music, performance and digital technology to explore Dubai's celestial heritage. To mark the opening, a projection show was displayed on the façade of the Burj Khalifa.

Beyond the museum, the artistic programme includes installations, performances and interactive experiences at locations across the emirate. An online academic programme is open to international audiences, so people can follow parts of the event without attending in person.

Scale of the programme

Dubai Culture describes this as the largest edition of the symposium so far. The official figures include:

• more than 100 artworks in the artistic programme;
• 145 academic papers;
• more than 50 talks and conversations with artists and practitioners;
• over 10 workshops in the online academic programme;
• more than 20 institutional presentations.

The programme is organised around four principal themes: Celestial Dialogues, Charting Constellations, Eco-Tech Futures and Starlinked Worlds. Four special tracks add more than 45 workshops, panel discussions and presentations, and there are seven Eco Labs workshops.

Why it matters for Dubai

Dubai Culture says hosting the symposium supports its Digital Arts Roadmap and reinforces the emirate's position as a global centre for creativity. It also presents the event as a way to give Emirati talent international exposure.

For residents and visitors, the practical takeaway is that the artistic programme is active across Dubai until 15 November. The Dubai Media Office announcement does not list ticket prices or opening hours, so anyone planning a visit should check the organisers' official channels and the venue pages for current details.