The second edition of Nomad Abu Dhabi is set to return in November, bringing contemporary art and collectible design back to the former Terminal 1 of Abu Dhabi’s old airport.
The travelling fair will take place from November 18 to 22, returning to the distinctive terminal building where Nomad made its Middle East debut in 2025.
Nomad says the return reflects its growing commitment to the region and comes during one of the busiest periods on Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar.
Unlike traditional art fairs, which typically rely on rows of temporary gallery booths, Nomad chooses architecturally distinctive locations and makes each venue’s character part of the experience. The fair has previously been staged in destinations including St Moritz, Capri, Venice, and Cannes.
A Historic Abu Dhabi Setting
The return to Terminal 1 is particularly fitting given the building’s architectural history.
Opened in 1982, the terminal was designed by French architect Paul Andreu, who also designed Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Its huge tent-like roof, arched passageways, and distinctive green-and-blue tiled interiors made the terminal one of Abu Dhabi’s most recognisable examples of modernist architecture.
The building was later taken out of service following the opening of the new Terminal A at Zayed International Airport.
Nomad brought the former terminal back into public use during its Abu Dhabi debut in November 2025.
The former departure areas and central hall were transformed into spaces for gallery presentations, installations, and design projects featuring participants from the UAE and overseas.
What Happened at the First Edition
Around 21 galleries and institutions participated in last year’s fair. The line-up included Dubai-based Third Line, AP Room and Leila Heller Gallery, alongside galleries and institutions from cities such as Cairo, Milan, Paris, Istanbul, Tunis and Athens.
The programme went beyond conventional gallery displays.
Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council presented its Tilad Collection with Mexican artist Ricardo Rendon, while design collective Super Loop explored regional craft traditions, including mother-of-pearl inlay and hand-carved wood.
Nomad co-founder Giorgio Pace previously told The National that the format was designed to bring artworks into closer conversation with their surroundings, rather than treating the venue as nothing more than an exhibition space.
The first edition also pointed towards a longer relationship with Abu Dhabi. Nomad co-founder Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte said the fair planned to return to Terminal 1 over the following four years, with the possibility of adding new commissions, performances, and installations over time.
More Details to Come
Organisers have yet to reveal the galleries, artists, and special projects taking part in this year’s edition.
The fair is expected to maintain its focus on collectible design while bringing together curators, collectors, and figures from the wider cultural sector.
Nomad views Abu Dhabi as an increasingly important market for international galleries and says it is working towards establishing a lasting presence in the region.
The November dates will place the fair in the middle of an expanding cultural season in the capital. The event will also come shortly before another major development in Abu Dhabi’s arts scene, with Guggenheim Abu Dhabi scheduled to open on Saadiyat Island in December.
For visitors, Nomad’s return offers something beyond an art fair. It provides an opportunity to step inside a landmark former airport terminal and see the building take on a completely different role — from a place of arrivals and departures to a temporary home for art, design, and cultural exchange.
Nomad Abu Dhabi 2026 will run from November 18 to 22 at the former Terminal 1 of Abu Dhabi’s old airport.
