NOMAD Abu Dhabi returns to the old airport terminal for its second edition
Heading to the airport but not going anywhere? NOMAD Abu Dhabi returns to the former Terminal 1 from 18 to 22 November, transforming the landmark building into an unexpected showcase of contemporary art, collectible design, jewellery and craft.
Image courtesy of NOMAD Abu Dhabi
More than 50 international galleries, designers and artists will transform the former airport into a destination for contemporary art, collectible design and craft this November.
Abu Dhabi's art and design calendar is set to welcome back NOMAD, returning to Terminal 1 of the Old Abu Dhabi Airport from 18 to 22 November 2026. And while you might be heading to the airport, you won't be travelling anywhere. Instead, the former terminal, no longer in operation, becomes an unexpected setting for a five-day showcase of contemporary art, collectible design, jewellery and craft.
Conceived as a boutique alternative to the traditional art fair, NOMAD takes an unconventional approach to showcasing creativity. Its choice of venue is part of the appeal, with the 1982 building by French architect Paul Andreu offering a rather cool and unusual backdrop for discovering art and design. Rather than a conventional exhibition hall, visitors can explore galleries and installations across former departure halls, private gates and corridors, experiencing the building in an entirely new way.
Drawing on the terminal's original purpose as a place of movement and exchange, this second edition ventures further into the building, bringing together more than 50 exhibitors. Alongside leading international galleries, the programme places particular emphasis on emerging creative voices from Africa, India, Korea and the wider Middle East.
Among the highlights are four private gates transformed into large-scale presentations by A2Z, Nilufar, Gallery FUMI and Galerie Gastou. Visitors can also expect a series of site-specific commissions celebrating regional craftsmanship and contemporary design. These include a collaboration between House of Artisans and Institut du Monde Arabe, pairing designer Abdel El Tayeb with Emirati master artisans, alongside the Al Taif Collection by Irthi and SUPER LOOP, inspired by the traditional Emirati art of Talli weaving.
The exhibitor line-up also welcomes several NOMAD debuts, including ÆQUŌ, Maison Intègre, Carpenters, Gallery Vein and Galleria Rossana Orlandi. They join regional names such as MATTAR, PIK'D and Gem Alf, creating a programme that places international perspectives in conversation with the UAE's growing creative scene.
Beyond the exhibitions, new collaborations will further expand the experience. These include ELITE by Chalhoub Group, a partnership between YANGWANG and artist Ibrahim Zaki, and an expanded public programme of talks and workshops with BGRE. A new partnership with ERTH Abu Dhabi will introduce the NOMAD Hub, while a collaboration with Public Art Abu Dhabi includes a live wall drawing by artist Robin Rhode.
More than an exhibition, it is an opportunity to explore a landmark building through a new creative lens, giving a former airport terminal a fresh lease of life as a meeting point for art, design and culture.
Visit: nomad-circle.com