The National Pavilion UAE has selected Bana Kattan, curator and associate head of exhibitions at the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, to curate the United Arab Emirates' presentation at the 61st International Venice Biennale in 2026. Born in Abu Dhabi and raised in the UAE, Kattan previously served as a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, where she organized shows for artists including Wafaa Bilal, Maryam Taghavi, and Mona Hatoum. A dedicated publication will accompany her pavilion presentation.
This appointment matters because it places a curator with deep regional roots and international experience at the helm of the UAE's national pavilion at one of the world's most prestigious art events. Kattan's focus on sociopolitical and historical realities through multigenerational Arab artists aligns with the Pavilion's mission to highlight underexplored narratives. The announcement also comes as the current pavilion exhibition—"In Minor Keys" by Koyo Kouoh—prepares to open, signaling continuity in the UAE's growing cultural diplomacy through contemporary art.