RAK Art Festival 2027 — Lost in Translation

The RAK Art Festival is held annually at the Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates — a restored coastal village that serves as the festival's permanent venue. The 2027 edition marks the festival's 14th year (founded 2013), organized by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.

The 2027 theme is "Lost in Translation," exploring displacement, migration, cultural adaptation, and the search for belonging across linguistic and cultural boundaries. The brief draws on the experience of being in between languages, cultures, and identities.

The festival accepts work across four eligibility categories: Emerging Artists, Established Artists (minimum two solo exhibitions), Filmmakers, and Students aged 6 to 19. Eligible media include photography, painting and drawing, sculpture and installation, video art, and short films. Each applicant submits up to four artworks total, with no more than two per medium across no more than two mediums.

Cash awards are denominated in UAE dirham. The Grand Jury Prize is AED 12,000 plus a trophy. Photography, Painting, and Drawing category awards are AED 6,000 (1st) and AED 4,000 (2nd). Sculpture/Installation, Video Art, and short film categories carry AED 6,000 awards. Best Student Artwork prizes are AED 2,000 per age category. Submission is free of charge. Selection is overseen by curator Sharon Toval and Festival Director Suqrat Bin Bisher. The 2026 deadline is June 5; results announced July 30, 2026; festival opens January 22, 2027.