Bana Kattan To Lead National Pavilion UAE At La Biennale Di Venezia In 2026

The National Pavilion UAE has appointed Bana Kattan as the curator for its participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. Kattan, who is the Curator and Associate Head of Exhibitions at the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, was chosen by a committee comprising leaders from the UAE's creative sector, including government, museums, and universities.

Before her role at the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Kattan was an Associate Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. There, she curated exhibitions featuring artists like Wafaa Bilal (2025), Maryam Taghavi (2024), and Mona Hatoum (2023). Her earlier work at NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery included research-driven exhibitions such as Permanent Temporariness by Sandi Hilal and Alessandro Petti (2018) and But We Cannot See Them: Tracing a UAE Art Community, 1988–2008 (2017).

Kattan was born in Abu Dhabi and grew up in the UAE. Her deep connection to the country's cultural scene has allowed her to witness its artistic evolution. She actively shapes discussions around contemporary art in the UAE by engaging with socio-political themes and fostering dialogue among artists across generations and disciplines.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, expressed his support for Kattan's appointment. He stated, "The Ministry of Culture is committed to amplifying the UAE’s cultural and creative voices on the global stage. We are pleased to welcome Bana Kattan as curator of the National Pavilion UAE at the Biennale Arte 2026. With her curatorial expertise and deep connection to the UAE, she will bring forward perspectives that resonate both locally and internationally."

Bana Kattan shared her enthusiasm about her new role: "It is an honour to be appointed curator of the National Pavilion UAE for the Biennale Arte 2026. Having worked extensively in the region and alongside a wide range of multigenerational and transdisciplinary artists from the Arab world, I look forward to contributing my experience to a project that reflects the UAE’s vibrant artistic landscape while engaging with broader histories, complexities, and conversations."

Angela Migally, Executive Director of the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, highlighted their commitment to nurturing cultural ecosystems. She said, "As commissioner of the National Pavilion UAE, the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation is committed to nurturing ideas, people, and practices that shape our shared future. Our work is rooted in supporting cultural ecosystems that enable practitioners to grow, collaborate, and contribute to the UAE’s evolving creative landscape."

Upcoming Exhibitions

The upcoming exhibition for Biennale Arte 2026 will run from 9th May to 22nd November 2026. It will be preceded by pre-opening events on 6th-8th May. This marks the UAE's fifteenth exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia's Art and Architecture International Exhibitions.

Laila Binbrek, Director of the National Pavilion UAE, praised Kattan's career trajectory within the country. "Bana Kattan’s career has been deeply intertwined with the UAE," she noted. "Her appointment reflects the Pavilion’s driving purpose: to shed light on underexplored narratives by bringing together diverse artistic perspectives that reflect the UAE’s unique blend of histories and communities."

The current exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia is Pressure Cooker by Azza Aboualam. It explores architecture's relationship with food production in innovative ways until November 2025.

The Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation commissions The National Pavilion UAE with support from The Ministry of Culture. It maintains a permanent pavilion at Arsenale – Sale d’Armi.

With inputs from WAM