Dubai Wins Bid to Host 2026 International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA)

Photo: E247

Dubai has officially won the bid to host the International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA) in April 2026. The announcement was made at this year’s ISEA event in Seoul, South Korea.

ISEA is a major global event that brings together artists, designers, scientists, curators, and technologists to explore the future of digital art and technology. Since its start in 1988, ISEA has been held in cities such as Paris, Montreal, and Barcelona.

The successful Dubai bid was led by a team from the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority along with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Zayed University. Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, praised the achievement: “Hosting ISEA 2026 speaks to the dynamism of our creative ecosystem and our continued drive to lead global conversations around the intersections of art, science, and technology,” she said.

The event will run from 10–17 April 2026 and is themed “ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data and Identity.” It will include workshops, panel talks, exhibitions, and networking events held across major cultural venues in the city. Around 200–500 participants—including international artists, academics, museum professionals, and digital artists—are expected to attend.

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Other key figures, like Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, and Prof. Michael Allen of Zayed University, highlighted the event’s importance in boosting cultural tourism, blending art with technology, and nurturing future creative talent.

Dubai’s win reflects its growing ambition to become a world-leading destination for digital arts—backed by its strong digital infrastructure, cultural investment, and strategic partnerships.