Art Dubai has confirmed the shape of its revised 2026 edition, a deliberately smaller fair marking the event's twentieth anniversary. Organisers say the special edition will host 50 galleries, compared with more than 120 in 2025, and nearly two-thirds of the exhibitors will come from the region. The downsizing follows an earlier decision to delay and reformat the fair in response to ongoing military conflict in the region, a move that mirrors postponements and scale-backs at several major events across the Middle East. Instead of the traditional large-scale fair format, the revised edition will lean on curated presentations, institutional collaborations and public programming. The fair is extending its reach through partnerships with local cultural institutions including Alserkal Avenue, Art Jameel, the Barjeel Art Foundation, Dubai Collection and Sharjah Art Foundation. In a statement, Benedetta Ghione, executive director of the Art Dubai Group, said the edition would demonstrate the resilience of the UAE's cultural scene and the power of collaboration at a moment when convening galleries, artists and institutions feels more important than ever. Art Dubai 2026 will take place at Madinat Jumeirah from May 15 to 17. The announcement closes a period of uncertainty about the fair's future after the postponement, reaffirming Dubai's role as the central meeting point for the region's art ecosystem. The May dates mark a departure from the fair's usual spring slot, underscoring how seriously organisers are taking the changed regional conditions — and how much confidence they retain in a concentrated, institution-backed edition to keep the fair's convening power intact.