Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi Photo by Hufton+Crow3
Abu Dhabi, UAE – 7 April 2026: Louvre Abu Dhabi has announced an open call for proposals for the sixth edition of its flagship contemporary art initiative, Art Here 2026, and the Richard Mille Art Prize. Continuing the museum’s exploration of shared human experiences and cultural connections, the 2026 edition expands to India alongside the GCC, reflecting the longstanding ties between India and the UAE rooted in exchange, coexistence and shared human values.
Art Here 2026 will be conceptualised by guest curator Kamini Sawhney, a distinguished museum leader, known for shaping accessible, audience‑centered cultural institutions in India. Artists from GCC (nationals and residents) and India (nationals) are invited to submit proposals around the theme Confluences, which explores how the contemporary world is shaped by overlapping histories, cultures and ecologies, and how encounters can emerge as sites of exchange, friction, hybridity and transformation.
As part of this edition, artists are encouraged to develop proposals for site specific monumental artworks that engage with the outdoor spaces beneath Louvre Abu Dhabi’s iconic dome, beginning around the Damascene fountain and continuing through a passageway towards a contemplative shallow pool and Jenny Holzer’s public art wall installation.
Launched in 2021, Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here champions local and regional talent and spotlights the region’s vibrant art and culture scene, while continuing to expand its reach across geographies, creating space for cross‑cultural interactions and stories of human creativity that transcend individual cultures and civilizations. This ethos underpins Confluences, which reflects on the idea that, like the sea, culture is not static or singular, but layered and constantly evolving through movement, encounter and return. It engages with ideas of migration, separation, longing and loss, while also speaking of acceptance, resilience and regeneration, reminding us that the intersection of diverse languages, food, music and community practices offers some of the richest shared experiences.
The call for proposals is open until 31 May 2026, and artists can submit their proposals via Louvre Abu Dhabi’s website. An esteemed jury will evaluate submissions and select the shortlisted artworks to be commissioned for the Art Here 2026 exhibition, opening in November 2026.
The 2026 Richard Mille Art Prize will then recognize one of the selected artists with a grand prize of US $60,000. The prize aims to support and showcase contemporary artists, in line with the museum’s mission to connect cultures and spotlight regional talent. The Richard Mille Art Prize winner will be announced in December 2026.
For more information and to submit applications, visit Louvre Abu Dhabi’s website.
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s operating hours
Museum: Open: 10 am – 6.30 pm (Tuesday – Thursday); extended hours: 10 am – 8.30 pm (Friday – Sunday); closed on Monday.
Dome: Open: 10 am – midnight (Tuesday – Sunday) – last entry 11 pm; closed on Monday.
Museum Café: Open: 10 am – 7 pm (Tuesday – Thursday); extended hours: 10 am – 9 pm (Friday – Sunday). Closed on Monday.
Art Lounge: Open: 3 pm – 12 am (last order 11 pm); closed on Monday and during summer.
Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi and Marta Bar: Open: 12 pm – 12 am (last orders at 10 pm) (Tuesday – Thursday, Sunday); weekends: 12 pm – 1 am (last order at 10.30 pm) (Friday – Saturday); closed on Monday.
Aptitude Café: Open: 9 am – 10 pm (daily including Monday)
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For more information on Louvre Abu Dhabi’s acquisitions policies and principles, visit our website.
ABOUT LOUVRE ABU DHABI
Created by an exceptional agreement between the governments of Abu Dhabi and France, Louvre Abu Dhabi was designed by Jean Nouvel and opened on Saadiyat Island in November 2017. The museum is inspired by traditional Islamic architecture and its monumental dome creates a rain of light effect and a unique social space that brings people together.
Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates the universal creativity of mankind and invites audiences to see humanity in a new light. Through its innovative curatorial approach, the museum focuses on building understanding across cultures: through stories of human creativity that transcend civilisations, geographies, and times.
The museum’s growing collection is unparalleled in the region and spans thousands of years of human history, including prehistoric tools, artefacts, religious texts, iconic paintings, and contemporary artworks. The permanent collection is supplemented by rotating loans from 19 French partner institutions, regional and international museums.
Louvre Abu Dhabi is a testing ground for new ideas in a globalised world and champions new generations of cultural leaders. Its international exhibitions, programming and Children’s Museum are inclusive platforms that connect communities and offer enjoyment for all.
ABOUT RICHARD MILLE
From the very inception of the brand in 2001, Richard Mille’s approach to watchmaking has always centred on releasing the watch from it restricted role as a mere tool for timekeeping, augmenting and extending its visual potential by placing it directly in the crosshairs of design, art and architecture. Today, 20 years later, the Richard Mille watch collection now comprises of more than eighty models, each designed and produced with the same passion, uncompromising principles and visionary aesthetics that guided Richard Mille’s first creation.
Richard Mille’s watches are marvels of technology designed specifically for those with a keen appreciation and love for fine Swiss watchmaking, playing up the full possibilities of three-dimensional space, defined by both the volume of the watchcase and the movement itself. Within these highly confined areas spanning just a few centimeters that serve as a blank canvas for horological creativity.
This assimilation of watchmaking to artistic endeavors is also reflected in the company’s close connections with the arts. The brand’s partnerships in support of contemporary art and artists include sponsorship of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the contemporary art Biennale Desert X; collaborations with choreographer Benjamin Millepied, composer Thomas Roussel and acquisition of Éditions Cercle d’Art, a publishing house created with the support of Pablo Picasso in the 1950s.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM – ABU DHABI
The Department of Culture and Tourism–Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies, and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.
DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage, and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives, and creative thought.
ABOUT SAADIYAT CULTURAL DISTRICT
Home to Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abrahamic Family House and Zayed National Museum, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Cultural District is one of the greatest concentrations of cultural institutions. Saadiyat Cultural District is a global platform, emanating from a rich cultural heritage, celebrating traditions, and advancing equitable culture. It is an embodiment of empowerment, showcasing museums, collections, and narratives that supports the region’s heritage while promoting a diverse global cultural landscape. Saadiyat Cultural District is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s commitment to preserving heritage while embracing a forward-looking vision. The District invites the world to engage with diverse cultures, fostering dialogue exchange, and offers a global cultural space that supports the region and the global South.