Louvre Abu Dhabi has announced its much-anticipated exhibition calendar for the 2025–2026 season, promising a rich cultural journey that connects global histories with modern artistic voices. This season’s lineup reflects the museum’s enduring commitment to artistic innovation and cultural dialogue, with exhibitions that span centuries and continents.
Exploring Empire: The Mamluk Legacy
Opening the season on September 17, 2025, is Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire, a major exhibition curated in partnership with Musée du Louvre and France Muséums. This deep historical dive explores the Mamluk Sultanate, which ruled parts of the Islamic world from 1250 to 1517. Through rare artifacts and artistic masterpieces, the show sheds light on the Mamluks’ cultural achievements and their connections to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Among the highlights are Reception of a Venetian Delegation by the Mamluk Governor of Damascus (1500–1540) and the famed Baptistery of Saint Louis, a 14th-century treasure that showcases the Mamluks’ exceptional craftsmanship. From Louvre Abu Dhabi’s own collection, visitors can view the Carpet Decorated with Three Medallions, a beautiful textile from 15th-century Egypt.
Contemporary Voices: Art Here 2025 & Richard Mille Art Prize
From October 8 to December 28, 2025, Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here returns for its fifth edition, spotlighting contemporary artists from the GCC, Japan, and the wider MENA region. Held in collaboration with luxury watchmaker Richard Mille, this year’s theme — Shadows — encourages artists to explore contrasts of light and dark inspired by both Japanese minimalism and Arabian aesthetics.
Curated by Swiss-Japanese curator Sophie Mayuko Arni, the exhibition will feature large-scale site-specific works, with one artist ultimately awarded the prestigious Richard Mille Art Prize.
Master of Modernism: Picasso, the Figure
Opening on January 19, 2026, and running until May 31, 2026, Picasso, the Figure is a monumental exhibition dedicated to Pablo Picasso’s radical interpretation of the human form. Organized in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso-Paris and France Muséums, the show covers various stages of Picasso’s career, from early 20th-century Cubism to his later explorations of surrealism and classical motifs.
Key works include Woman with a Mandolin (1911) and Portrait of a Seated Woman (1923) from the Louvre Abu Dhabi collection, alongside loans from Paris, such as Woman Sitting in Front of the Window (1937) — offering a rare look at Picasso’s evolving techniques across different mediums.
A Season of Connection and Discovery
Beyond these headline exhibitions, Louvre Abu Dhabi will offer a full season of cultural and educational programming, immersive experiences, and artist talks designed to deepen public engagement with the arts.
Speaking about the upcoming season, Museum Director Manuel Rabaté emphasized that the 2025–2026 exhibitions reflect Louvre Abu Dhabi’s mission to serve as a meeting point for Eastern and Western art, tradition, and innovation.
As visitors explore this season’s diverse offerings — from medieval Islamic artistry to contemporary interpretations of light and form — they’ll be invited to see art not just as objects on display, but as bridges between civilizations, perspectives, and generations.
