Sheikha Latifa inaugurates 31st International Symposium on Electronic Art in Dubai
ISEA2026 brings together international artists, researchers and innovators to explore the intersection of art, science, technology and cultural identity.
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, has inaugurated the 31st International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art (ISEA2026 Dubai), bringing together artists, researchers and innovators from around the world.
Held under the theme ‘ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data, and Identity’, the largest-ever edition of the international symposium explores how art, science and technology can transform creative expression, strengthen cultural understanding and shape the future of electronic and emerging art.
As part of the inauguration on November 9, 2026, Sheikha Latifa launched the interactive ELYAH experience at ARTE MUSEUM Dubai. Inspired by Dubai’s celestial heritage, the installation combines light, music, performance and digital technology to explore the connections between people, place and identity.
The interactive experience allows visitors to activate a visual sequence by stepping onto a digital star, tracing the story of ELYAH and its historical significance as a navigational guide. Coinciding with the symposium's opening, Burj Khalifa's façade was also illuminated with a projection show featuring visual compositions inspired by stars, light and the event's digital identity.
During her visit, Sheikha Latifa viewed digital artworks by international artists featured in the ELYAH experience. The installations draw inspiration from nature and the cosmos, presenting different perspectives on humanity's relationship with the universe.
Among the featured works was ‘Quantum Memory Fossils – Where Breath Becomes Light’ by Taeyoung Ahn, which examines the connections between nature, memory and the future. She also viewed ‘Cosmic Balance: A Hybrid Cosmos of Water, Light & Gesture’ by Ina Hur and Serkan Jolboldin, which combines traditional elements with contemporary visual expression.
Another featured installation, ‘Saving Aesthetics’ by Orkhan Mammadov, reinterprets traditional patterns and symbols through digital technology.
Dubai Culture's hosting of ISEA2026 supports the objectives of its Digital Arts Roadmap, which aims to encourage research, experimentation, innovation and collaboration among artists, researchers, and cultural, academic and technology institutions.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen Dubai's position as an international cultural destination and innovation hub while supporting the creative economy and preserving connections with Emirati heritage.
ISEA2026 features an extensive artistic and academic programme. Its in-person Artistic Programme showcases more than 100 artworks across Dubai, while the online Academic Programme provides international audiences with access to 145 academic papers, over 50 artist and practitioner talks and conversations, and more than 10 workshops.
The programme also includes four special tracks featuring over 45 workshops, panel discussions and presentations, seven Eco Labs workshops and more than 20 institutional presentations.
Through its combination of physical exhibitions, digital experiences and academic discussions, ISEA2026 aims to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration and explore emerging possibilities at the intersection of art and technology.
