Knowing how the GCC calendar ebbs and flows, we’re sure the next couple of months into 2026 will carry that momentum forward. And if you’re anything like us—i.e. revelling in the whirlwind—here’s our guide on all the events to look forward to in the upcoming year. From fashion to sports, these are the events where trends, innovation, and inspiration intersect, converge, and take shape.
January 1–11: e& MOTB
Returning for its 13th edition, the Market Outside The Box is an outdoor festival where shopping, dining, and live entertainment shake hands. Expect mini workshops, brand activations, freebies, and a live performance by Emirati artist DYSTINCT on January 2.
January 7: BAAB Film Premiere
The dark psychological film created by Emirati director Nayla Al Khaja made history this year as the first female-directed film to premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival. Now, coming to theatres in the UAE, the film will premiere on January 7, complete with a red carpet and the film cast in attendance.
January 23–February 1: Sikka Art and Design Festival
One of the OG Dubai art festivals, the 14th edition of the Sikka Art and Design Festival will take place at the Al Shindagha Historic District. Expect exhibitions, installations, musical performances, workshops, film screenings, and live poetry readings by emerging Emirati and other GCC talents.
January 24–25: Al Quoz Arts Fest
A laid-back arts festival, the Al Quoz Arts Fest brings contemporary art and friendly neighbourhood vibes together.
January 26–29: Paris Haute Couture Week SS26
This season will have a diverse lineup, featuring Jonathan Anderson’s and Matthieu Blazy’s debut haute couture collections for their respective houses, the return of Syrian designer Rami Al Ali, and the debut of Phan Huy, the first Vietnamese designer, as well as the youngest designer to showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week.
February 1–6: Dubai Fashion Week AW26
Featuring Italian luxury house, Alberta Ferretti, as the headliner, Dubai Fashion Week strategically kickstarts fashion month.
February 5–7: Art Basel Qatar
International series of art fairs, Art Basel, will be debuting a Middle Eastern edition in Doha, Qatar. A celebration of art, both locally and internationally, 87 galleries from 31 countries will be presenting at this inaugural edition.
February 11–16: New York Fashion Week AW26
The start of the first major international fashion week, it will be our first look into future mainstream trends.
February 19–23: London Fashion Week AW26
Highlighting British creativity, this season’s schedule will feature the likes of Simone Rocha, Malone Souliers, Burberry, and more.
February 24–March 2: Milano Women’s Fashion Week AW26
Expect Maria Grazia Chiuri’s debut collection for Fendi and possibly Demna’s first runway show for Gucci this season.
March 2–10: Paris Women’s Fashion Week AW26
Featuring another Creative Director debut, this season shall see Antonin Tron’s debut collection for Balmain.
March 28: Dubai World Cup
Held at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, the Dubai World Cup is a culmination of sports and classic modest fashion.
April TBD: Emirates Film Festival
While currently taking submissions for its 2026 edition, the independent film festival has been championing regional storytellers for more than a decade. While the exact dates for the festival have not been confirmed, reports mention that the film festival will take place in April 2026.
April 10–12: Bahrain Grand Prix
The first of the Middle Eastern Grand Prix, expect a celebration of motorsport on the tracks and a celebration of motorsport fashion at the paddock.
April 16–18: Paris Modest Fashion Week
Marking their 11th edition in Paris, the Paris Modest Fashion Week is set to showcase and celebrate modest design with a diverse lineup of brands, designers, and other creatives.
April 16-19: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Taking place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, we can anticipate modest street style while the cars zoom past.
April 28: Chanel Cruise Collection
Taking place at Biarritz, France, the location where Coco Chanel opened her first couture house, this season’s cruise collection will be Matthieu Blazy’s debut collection. The location possibly hints that the collection will be an ode to French heritage as well as the French coast.
May 4-Met Gala
Scheduled for the first Monday of May, with the theme ‘Costume Art’, we have our fingers crossed for outfits that make a statement, start a conversation, and flourish as wearable art.
May 13: Dior Cruise Collection
Another anticipated debut, this will be Jonathan Anderson’s debut cruise collection for Dior.
May 16: Gucci Cruise Collection
And a third Cruise Collection debut we have our eyes out for, Demna’s debut cruise collection will take place in New York, USA.
July 6–9: Paris Haute Couture Week FW26
While the official schedule isn’t out, we can expect designers to bring forth drama in design at Europe’s fashion capital.
September TBD: Dubai Fashion Week SS27
Featuring local and international designers, the Fall/Winter edition of Dubai Fashion Week is the Gulf’s beginning of the official fashion month.
September 9–14: New York Fashion Week SS27
While the formal schedule hasn’t been announced yet, expect prominent American designers as well as emerging talent to take over the runway.
September 17–21: London Fashion Week SS27
Similar to New York Fashion Week, the official schedule for the upcoming Spring/Summer edition hasn’t been announced yet, but we can expect British fashion houses such as Burberry and Vivienne Westwood, among others, to present their collections this season.
September 22–28: Milano Fashion Week SS27
This season will see the sophomore collection of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Demna’s follow-up to his La Famiglia collection; a second movie perhaps?
September 28–October 6: Paris Women’s Fashion Week SS27
While the official schedule hasn’t been released, we can expect the designers who made their debut last year to release sophomore collections that cement their respective house codes.
TBD October: Riyadh Fashion Week
The dates for Riyadh Fashion Week haven’t been officially announced, but we can expect it to occur in October 2026. This year’s fashion week was headlined by the Middle Eastern debuts of two international houses, so we can’t wait to see what the Kingdom has in store for its 2026 edition.
TBD October: El Gouna Film Festival 2026
Taking place at the Red Sea resort city of El Gouna, Egypt, this film festival will be celebrating its 9th edition in the latter half of the year.
TBD November: Dubai Design Week
A celebration of design, both local and international, expect the dates to this cultural festival to fall in November 2026.
TBD November: SEPHORiA Middle East
Disneyland but for beauty lovers, every edition of SEPHORiA Middle East has been met with resounding success, and if a 3rd edition is announced, we won’t expect anything less.
November 11–20: Cairo International Film Festival
One of the oldest Arab film festivals, we can expect a celebration of Arab storytelling and creative direction. This year, we saw history being made with Nayla Al Khaja’s project BAAB, and we wonder what barriers will be broken in the 2026 edition.
November 19–28: Cairo Design Week
Bringing together creatives, Cairo Design Week is Egypt’s biggest design festival, turning areas in Egypt into immersive spaces of art, design, and architecture.
November 27–29: Qatar Grand Prix
Taking place at the Lusail International Circuit, the Qatar Grand Prix serves just enough hype as the World Drivers’ Championship inches towards the final.
TBD December: Fujifilm Short Film Festival 2026
Created by Fujifilm Middle East in collaboration with Cinema Akil and Gulf Photo Plus, this festival supports local filmmakers by screening 20 standout short films across Documentary, Experimental, and Student categories.
TBD December: Sole DXB 2026
Celebrating hip-hop, sports, and experimental fashion, we can expect Sole DXB to return in December 2026.
December 3–December 7: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Closing the World Drivers’ Championship, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix brings together more than just motorsport. With yacht parties, brunches, and live performances closing each day, expect Yas Island to be lit up.
