Good news: Art Cairo is back, and this time it is already the seventh edition. Save the dates — 22–26 January 2026. And the location? A major one: the Grand Egyptian Museum, the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilisation.

As with any art event, it all starts with the theme.

For 2026, Art Cairo is fully and unapologetically focused on the Arabic language. The theme is “Arab. Art. Here.” The idea is to celebrate the Arabic language as something alive and powerful — something that shapes artistic expression, collective memory, and contemporary practice across the region.

This edition also takes a moment to honour Guirguis Lotfi, one of the key figures of modern Egyptian art, whose work and ideas continue to resonate across Egypt’s art scene and inspire artists today.

Now to the most important part — what are we going to see? Which galleries are coming, and what kind of artists will be there?

Here is a quick overview.

The Egyptian scene is represented by Zamalek Art Gallery, Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art, Gallery Misr, Villa Azad, and Le Lab. Together, they showcase artists whose practices touch on social histories, political narratives, material exploration, and the visual languages shaping today’s art scene.

From Lebanon, galleries such as Mark Hachem, Maya Art Space, Aramé Art Gallery, ZAAT, and KAF Art Gallery bring projects that reflect on identity, language, displacement, and storytelling — spanning different generations and artistic approaches.

Jordan is represented by Wadi Finan Art Gallery and Orfali Art Gallery, presenting works that move fluidly between abstraction and figuration, rooted in lived experience across the Levant.

Beyond the region, the lineup also includes Salwa Zeidan Gallery, Fann À Porter, Galerie SANAA, Quartum Galleri, and Folk Art Space, adding an international perspective to the fair.

Art Cairo will also present a solo museum exhibition of Inji Efflatoun, drawn from the collection of the Egyptian Museum of Modern Art. It is a strong reminder that museum collections aren’t static — they are living archives that continue to speak to the present.

And of course, no Art Cairo without talks. Here, the panel programme is called Hiwar, which literally means “dialogue” in Arabic.

So, what is on the agenda?

One of the key discussions is Behind the Market, led by Christie’s, which looks at how galleries, artists, collectors, and auction houses interact — and how trust and collaboration shape the art market.

Another topic is The Triangle: Artist — Gallery — Collector, focusing on shared responsibility, sustainability, and how artistic value and legacy are built together.

Then there is The Bridge: Designers and Galleries, highlighting the growing conversation between art and design and how these collaborations help shape culturally meaningful spaces.

Belonging Through Art shifts the focus to art as a social force and its role in building communities beyond the artwork itself.

Finally, Between Two Worlds looks at modern Egyptian art through human experience, cultural memory, and everyday life — and how it continues beyond time and biography.

Altogether, the programme brings together voices from across the cultural scene, spanning art, design, film, and the wider creative industries.