Sharjah Triennale unveils curators for its 2026 edition

Welcome back to Al-Monitor Dubai.

This week, we announce the curators for the third edition of the Sharjah Architecture Triennale, spotlight several must-see art exhibitions in Dubai by Palestinian artists exploring embroidery, and highlight Emirati artist Maitha Abdalla’s solo show, “Between Metamorphosis and Reality,” at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. Also, we take a look at a new dining spot opening in Dubai’s Bluewaters.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Dubai's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: Sharjah Triennale announces curators for SAT 03

Vyjayanthi Rao and Tau Tavengwa, curator and associate curator of Sharjah Architecture Triennale SAT03. (Courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation)

This week, the Sharjah Architecture Triennale — set to take place in 2026 — announced its curatorial team: Vyjayanthi Rao as curator, joined by Tau Tavengwa as associate curator. The Triennale serves as a platform for architecture and urbanism with a focus on West and South Asia, as well as the African continent. Based in New York, Rao is an anthropologist, writer and curator whose multidisciplinary approach draws on her expertise in socio-cultural anthropology and critical discourse on urban design and architecture. Tavengwa, a Cape Town-based architect, curator and publisher, brings continuity to the conversation following his curatorial role at the 2022 Lisbon Architecture Triennale.

“Through our collaboration, we hope to open up new ways of thinking about what a triennial like Sharjah can become over time — leaving behind tangible strategies and ideas that respond to the needs and challenges of contemporary urban centers across the Global South and beyond,” Rao and Tavengwa were quoted as saying in the opening press release.

The inaugural edition, staged in 2019 was curated by Adrian Lahoud under the theme “Rights of Future Generations,” followed by the second edition in 2023, curated by Tosin Oshinowo from Nigeria under the theme “The Beauty of Impermanence: An Architecture of Adaptability.”

On Saturday, May 10, 2025, Sharjah Architecture Triennial will host "Meet the Curators of the 2026 SAT (Sharjah Architecture Triennale) Edition," a public event at SAT headquarters, Al Qasimiyah School, marking the first official appearance of Rao and Tavengwa as SAT03 curator and associate curator, offering audiences insight into their curatorial practices and plans for the upcoming edition.

Dates: May 10

Location: Al Qasimiyah School, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: La Cantine Beach Dubai

A view of the new La Cantine Beach Dubai at Bluewaters. (Courtesy of La Cantine Beach)

A new outpost of the popular La Cantine Beach by Le Faubourg has opened — this time at Bluewaters. Set on scenic Bluewaters Island within the upscale Delano Dubai hotel, the venue is surrounded by lush greenery and sits just steps from the pool, offering an elevated dining escape with sweeping sea views. It’s also conveniently close to a pristine, white-sand beach. With stylish bamboo chairs, wooden floors and ceilings, and bohemian design touches, the space strikes a rustic yet refined tone — an inviting setting for indulging in French cuisine with a Mediterranean twist.

Location: Delano Dubai, Bluewaters Island

Find more information here.

3. Dubai diary

Maitha Abdalla in front of an artwork in Between Metamorphosis and Reality. (Courtesy of the artist and Tabari Artspace)

• “Maitha Abdalla: Between Metamorphosis and Reality”

The works of interdisciplinary Emirati artist Maitha Abdalla are on view in a comprehensive exhibition surveying her works that explore gender, mythology, folklore and psychology. Working in mixed media, sculpture, painting and performance, Abdalla’s work often uses theater to investigate memories, society and history. Her characters, both real and imagined, are very much about her own self evolution and exploration.

Dates: Until 30 August

Location: Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi

Find more information here.

• “Night Glow” at Custot Gallery

Currently on view at Custot Gallery Dubai is a group exhibition showcasing a curated selection of works from the Waddington Custot roster. Featured artists include Landon Metz, Nick Brandt, Kenia Almaraz Murillo, Bernar Venet, Fabienne Verdier, Marc Quinn and Tomás Saraceno. An extension of the renowned Waddington Custot gallery in London, Custot Gallery Dubai was founded by French art dealer Stephane Custot to bring modern and contemporary Western art to the Middle East. Unified by their abstract forms, colors and mediums, the works invite viewers to immerse themselves in a rich tapestry of visual language and artistic expression.

Dates: Until May 31

Location: Custot Gallery Dubai, Alserkal Avenue, Warehouse 84

Find more information here.

• “On White: Majd Abdel Hamid” at Grey Noise

This exhibition highlights the work of Palestinian artist Majd Abdel Hamid, focusing on his embroidery practice as a contemplative, evolving form of expression. Featuring over one hundred meticulously hand-stitched pieces, the show blends abstract composition with deeply personal and political motifs. Through these intricate works, Hamid reflects on fragments of both personal memory and collective experience.

Dates: Until 4 June

Location: Grey Noise, Warehouse 24

Find more information here.