Culture Summit Abu Dhabi returns this December

Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is returning for its eighth edition this December, bringing cultural leaders, creatives, thinkers, and decision-makers from around the world to the capital.

The summit will take place from 8 to 10 December 2026, and will be held at Manarat Al Saadiyat and across the Saadiyat Cultural District, at Louvre, Zayed National Museum, and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

This year’s theme is ‘Towards a Reimagined Commons’, and promises conversations exploring how culture can bring people together, shape communities, and help tackle some of the major changes happening around the world.

Each day of the Summit will focus on a different theme, with a programme of panel discussions, case studies, creative conversations, and interactive workshops.

Day one: Collective Memories: The first day will look at how our histories and memories shape identity, belonging, and the way communities see themselves.

Day two: Collective Space: Day two turns to the places where culture happens, from physical spaces to the digital world, and how they can become more inclusive, participatory, and sustainable.

Day three: Collective Imagination: The final day looks ahead, exploring how culture and creativity can help us imagine new ways of living, connecting, and working together.

The wider programme will also look at how environmental challenges, technology, and global change are affecting communities, and what role the cultural and creative industries can play in responding to them.

Culture Summit Abu Dhabi has become an annual fixture in the capital, bringing together figures from across the international cultural and creative industries.

When: 8–10 December 2026

Where: Manarat Al Saadiyat and Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi

Registration: Now open via the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi website