The Journal

DIFC Art Nights is a twice-yearly, alfresco art festival that has become a signature event on the cultural calendar of Dubai. Set within the chic environment of Gate Village in Dubai International Financial Centre, this free event draws thousands of collectors, connoisseurs and families each spring and autumn. Far from a conventional exhibition format, art, design and music inhabited the district during the festival’s tenth year, injecting a sense of theatricality into the overall ambience. Throughout its subsequent years, it has transformed DIFC into a gallery in a manner entirely akin to the district’s design-led character. In practice, the festival has consistently attracted scores of international and Emirati artists along with fashion pop-ups and live performances.