ArtDayME: Ras Al Khaimah Art 2027 Festival, titled Lost in Translation, will bring together more than 140 artworks by over 130 artists representing 54 nationalities. Centred on identity, migration, memory and belonging, the festival explores the distances between people and the challenges of communication in an increasingly interconnected world.

Curated by Sharon Toval and organised by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research under the Ras Al Khaimah Art Program, the festival will take place at Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, a historic setting that offers a distinctive backdrop for contemporary art.

Lost in Translation: Exploring Identity, Culture and Isolation

Inspired by Sofia Coppola’s acclaimed 2003 film Lost in Translation, the festival uses translation as a metaphor that extends beyond language to encompass human emotions, cultural differences and the difficulties of mutual understanding.

The selected artworks explore migration, memory, belonging and the tension between personal identity and public roles. They also examine how meaning changes as it moves between contexts, and how places and landscapes can create connections while simultaneously reinforcing feelings of isolation.

From Digital Art to Immersive Cultural Experiences

The festival programme extends beyond exhibitions to include guided tours, workshops, masterclasses, live performances, cultural activities and dining experiences.

One of its highlights, The Whispers Palace, offers an innovative encounter with video art in an environment inspired by traditional Emirati and Bedouin tent structures. The installation creates a space between tradition and the future, memory and imagination, inviting visitors to experience moving-image works in an intimate setting.

Another featured programme, InstArtWorld, presents Instagram accounts as works of digital art in their own right. Selected posts by artists transform individual accounts into curated visual worlds featuring videos, GIFs, animations and experimental imagery. The project explores how digital technologies are reshaping the creation, presentation and experience of art.

Meanwhile, The Hidden Table brings gastronomy and art together through distinctive dining experiences that combine culinary narratives with cultural and artistic settings.

RAK Art on the Move to Expand into Dubai and Sharjah in 2026

Through RAK Art on the Move, Ras Al Khaimah Art is extending its reach beyond the emirate through a series of curated events in selected venues. Each edition will present selected artworks alongside live performances, talks and creative experiences, introducing artists to new audiences and encouraging cultural exchange and collaboration.

The programme will launch in Dubai on 24–25 October 2026 at Progressive Art Gallery. The next edition will take place in Sharjah on 5–6 December 2026 at Base39, located within Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park.

The events will bring together artists, curators, collectors, cultural institutions, gallery representatives, creative professionals, media, diplomats and private-sector stakeholders. Further international editions are also planned, with the aim of connecting the festival with wider communities and building new relationships beyond the United Arab Emirates.

A Historic Heritage Village at the Heart of the Festival

Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, the festival’s main venue, is one of the UAE’s last remaining intact Emirati pearling villages. The historic site features a fort, watchtowers, a mosque, a traditional souq and courtyard houses, preserving a tangible connection to the region’s pearling heritage.

Bookings for festival tours, workshops, masterclasses and dining experiences are expected to open in November 2026. Further information is available through the official Ras Al Khaimah Art website.