Dubai Culture Launches Registration for ISEA2026 Dubai Art and Tech Symposium

Event Overview

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has announced that registration is now open for the 31st International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art, known as ISEA2026 Dubai. The event will take place from 6 November to 15 November 2026 under the theme “ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data and Identity”. Organisers describe it as the largest edition in the symposium’s history, aiming to bring together artists, researchers and innovators from around the world to examine the intersection of art, science and technology and to discuss the future of contemporary creative practice.

Programme Structure

The symposium combines an in‑person artistic programme hosted at various venues across Dubai with an online academic programme that can be accessed from anywhere. The online component will begin with special track panels and workshops from 6 November to 9 November, followed by the main academic conference sessions running from 10 November to 14 November 2026.

Participation Details

Participation in the artistic programme across Dubai is free of charge, while access to the online academic programme requires a purchased ticket. Every registered participant will receive a personal QR code that grants exclusive entry to the artistic programme venues. Details for accessing the online academic programme will be emailed to the address used during registration. Students who book using a valid university email address are eligible for a 50 percent discount on the online programme. Registration can be completed at isea2026.eventshub.ai.

Maitha Ali Al Blooshi, Director of the Emerging Arts Department at Dubai Culture and Executive Director of ISEA2026, highlighted the symposium’s role in connecting artistic and academic communities and enriching dialogue on the future of digital and emerging arts.

“ISEA2026 Dubai offers audiences the opportunity to discover innovative artistic experiences that demonstrate the creative possibilities of technology and engage with new perspectives from artists and researchers around the world. Opening registration invites local talent to learn from these experiences, refine their skills, and expand their professional networks, strengthening their capacity to experiment and innovate.”\n”The symposium also reflects Dubai Culture’s commitment to creating an environment that encourages research and collaboration and supports the sustainable growth of digital and emerging arts.”

She added that hosting the international symposium reflects Dubai’s global leadership in embracing innovative artistic experiences and its ability to attract creative practitioners, researchers and specialists from diverse cultures.

Themes and Content

The programme will feature more than 100 artworks and 145 academic papers, over 50 artist talks and panel discussions, in excess of 10 workshops, more than 45 special track workshops, panels and presentations, seven Eco Lab workshops and upwards of 20 institutional presentations within the online academic programme.

Exhibitions, live and audio‑visual performances, installations, interactive and immersive experiences will be staged across Dubai, inviting audiences to engage with works that explore the relationship between people, place and technology.

ISEA is recognised as one of the world’s leading platforms for investigating the connections between art, science and technology. The 31st edition will explore four core themes: Charting Constellations, Celestial Dialogues, Eco‑Tech Futures and Starlinked Worlds.

Charting Constellations examines place, digital geographies, identity and community; Celestial Dialogues looks at cultural exchange, storytelling and collaboration; Eco‑Tech Futures focuses on environmental responsibility and sustainable technology; while Starlinked Worlds considers the relationship between technology and human experience, including ethical, philosophical and speculative futures.