Dubai Culture Invites Creatives to Apply for Sikka 2027
- 12:00-11: 30 PM Thursday
- Registration Required
Dubai Culture has begun preparations for Sikka 2027, which will be held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, in January 2027 at Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood and Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Marking 15 years since the festival’s inception, this landmark edition reflects the diversity and vibrancy of the local and regional creative landscape. Over the years, Sikka has evolved from a platform celebrating creative expression into a leading cultural festival that nurtures emerging talent and supports artists and creatives across disciplines.
The Sikka 2027 theme, ‘The Return,’ is inspired by the idea of returning to roots, traditions, and identity, while revitalising places through memory, people, and cultural exchange. This vision is embodied in Sikka 2027’s symbolic return to its original home in Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, reinforcing its connection to its cultural roots and further establishing its position as an inspiring creative and cultural platform that invites communities to reflect, connect, and contribute to shaping new stories that continue to evolve with each edition.
As part of this, Dubai Culture has launched an open call for Sikka 2027, which supports Dubai’s Quality of Life Strategy, inviting creatives, artists, designers, photographers, performers, culinary professionals, and retailers specialising in creative and cultural products to take part in the festival. Sikka 2027 brings together a diverse line-up of activities spanning visual arts, drawing, sculpture, photography, design, murals, multimedia, culinary arts, interactive workshops, musical performances, talks and more.
Applications will remain open until the 17th of August Applicants are required to submit proposals for original, recent works that align with the Sikka 2027 theme and reflect their creative vision, while demonstrating artistic quality, conceptual originality, uniqueness, and the ability to enrich the diversity of artistic practices presented at the festival. A curatorial team and the festival’s selection committee will review all submissions and select the projects eligible to participate in the festival.
To learn more about Sikka categories and apply, click here.
To download Sikka Application Guidelines, click here.
For Curators, Entities, Initiatives & Institutions contact us on sikka@dubaiculture.ae.
To download cultural and creative Entities, Institutions application guidelines, click here.
