The Louvre Abu Dhabi has four very interesting upcoming exhibitions this season that bring together archaeological insights, stories of maritime exchange capturing the sensory richness of the Indian Ocean, efforts to protect cultural heritage, and contemporary artistic voices to explore humanity’s interconnected histories.
Together, these exhibitions comprising artistic expressions from the region, including the GCC and India, reflect the museum’s ambition to illuminate the interconnected stories of humanity and inspire a deeper sense of universal understanding, according to an official release.
The Exhibitions to Watch Out For at Louvre Abu Dhabi
1. A Board Game Adventure (18 July 2026 – April 2027): The exhibition explores the enduring appeal of board games as tools for learning, imagination and social connection across cultures and centuries. Tracing the journeys of iconic games such as chess, carrom, ludo and mancala, it reveals how they travelled, evolved and connected societies over time.
Bringing together around 30 objects from Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection alongside regional and international loans, the exhibition features early examples from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, inviting visitors to reflect on the fundamental role of play in the human experience. The exhibition is curated by Amine Kharchach, Interpretation and Creative Content Section Head at Louvre Abu Dhabi and Orlane Lefeuvre, Interpretation and Creative Content Officer
2. Spices and Wonders: Sailing the Indian Ocean (14 October 2026 – 14 February 2027): In partnership with the Guimet – National Museum of Asian Arts in France, this exhibition will explore a 1,000 years of maritime exchange, revealing how the Indian Ocean became a crossroads of cultures through trade, craftsmanship and navigation from Africa to Asia.
It will shed light on the vast maritime routes that linked ancient societies from Africa, the Middle East and Europe to South and Southeast Asia through the Indian Ocean. Spanning from Antiquity to the 17th century, the exhibition explores centuries of trade, movement and cultural exchanges through displays of spices, textiles, ceramics and other special cargo that crossed the ocean.
The exhibition is curated by Dr Guilhem André, Director of Scientific, Curatorial and Collections Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Dr Claire Déléry, Curator of the Chinese Ceramics collection at the Guimet in Paris, with the support of Dr Andrea Rozsavolgyi, Senior Curatorial Assistant at Louvre Abu Dhabi, Dr Lucie Chopard, Curatorial Assistant at France Muséums, and Fakhera Alkindi, Senior Curatorial Assistant at Louvre Abu Dhabi. A second edition of this touring exhibition will be presented at the Guimet from 12 May to 6 September 2027.
3. Art Here 2026 and the Richard Mille Art Prize (11 November 2026 – 28 February 2027): The sixth edition of the Art Here exhibition, organised in partnership with the Swiss luxury watchmaking brand Richard Mille, will be accepting proposals from contemporary artists from the GCC countries (nationals and residents) and India (nationals only).
This edition is curated by Kamini Sawhney, the founding director of the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP), one of the first digital art and photography museums in Bengaluru, India. The exhibition’s theme, Confluences, reflects on how intertwined histories, cultures and migrations, particularly across the Indian Ocean, continually shape identities, communities and everyday life, positioning culture as a dynamic and ever‑evolving exchange.
Works by the shortlisted artists will be displayed in the Art Here 2026 exhibition starting in November, and the winner of the prestigious Richard Mille Art Prize will be announced at a later stage.
4. Living Legacies. Protecting Heritage. Building Hope (23 November 2026 – 25 April 2027): Organised by Louvre Abu Dhabi in partnership with the ALIPH (International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage) Foundation, Living Legacies tells the stories of how people in some of the world’s most complex environments work to protect, restore, and safeguard their cultural heritage.
Featuring artefacts on loan from diverse international cultural institutions and ALIPH’s grantee partners, the exhibition will guide visitors through a multi-sensory, immersive experience displaying projections and testimonies. The exhibition is curated by Magdalena Ruiz, Senior Curator at Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Amaryllis Maria Georges, Senior Curatorial Assistant at Louvre Abu Dhabi, with the support of Dr Sandra Bialystok and Dr Bastien Varoutsikos from the ALIPH Foundation.
Dr Guilhem André, Director of Scientific, Curatorial and Collections Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: “Continuing Louvre Abu Dhabi’s mission to create bridges between cultures, our 2026-27 programme delves deep into expansive histories of diversity and exchange. Each exhibition offers a fresh angle on the connections and universal languages that define our world, shaped in close collaboration with our fantastic partners and for visitors of all ages. From early material culture to contemporary commissions, we invite everyone to explore the importance of heritage, the arts and the wonders of human ingenuity.”
Lamya Al Nuaimi, Director of Development, Marketing & Communications at Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: “Louvre Abu Dhabi’s upcoming season invites audiences to move across cultures, histories and ideas, connecting worlds through art. The museum continues to develop a cultural platform that sparks dialogue, exchange and discovery on a global scale. Through collaboration with international partners and contemporary voices, this programme reflects Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead with culture, fostering creativity, inspiring future generations.”
Alongside these exhibitions, Louvre Abu Dhabi will host a dynamic range of cultural and educational programmes designed to deepen engagement with the artworks on display and enrich the visitor experience. Rooted in object‑based learning, these programmes draw directly from the museum’s collection and exhibitions, encouraging close-looking, meaning‑making and dialogue. These include a series of curator‑led talks, a symposium, film screenings, performances and events designed to foster curiosity, engagement and dialogue.
Each exhibition will have a catalogue in three languages, specialised guided tours, a podcast episode, a curated learning path for children and families, and work booklets exploring materiality and heritage preservation, in addition to weekly workshops for adults. Established initiatives such as Book and Easel, Drawing at the Museum, the Quantum Dome Project, and Art in Scents, will continue to run, inviting creative exploration and multi‑sensory engagement. Together, these initiatives position the 2026–2027 season as a celebration of creativity, cultural exchange and artistic exploration.
