The National Pavilion UAE has named Bana Kattan, curator and associate head of exhibitions at the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, as curator of the United Arab Emirate’s presentation at the 61st International Venice Biennale in 2026.
Kattan’s appointment was decided by a committee of key figures in the UAE government, museum, and academic spheres. Born in Abu Dhabi and raised in the UAE, Katan’s work engages with the socio-political and historical realities of her home, as understood through the perspective of artists across generations.
Before joining the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Kattan served as a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, where she organized shows for the high-profile artists Wafaa Bilal (2025), Maryam Taghavi (2024), and Mona Hatoum (2023), among others. Her pavilion presentation in Venice will be accompanied by a dedicated publication.
“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,” Kattan said in a statement.
The National Pavilion UAE’s exhibition— “In Minor Keys” by Koyo Kouoh—will be open to the public from Saturday, May 9, 2026 through Sunday, November 22. “In Minor Keys” has been described in a curatorial statement by Kouoh as a “collective score” composed together with artists, poets, performers, and filmmakers who work “at the boundaries of form,” lending their practices to be thought of as “intricate melodies” to be explored in isolation or harmony.
Laila Binbrek, director of the National Pavilion UAE, said in a statement that Kattan’s 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.”
