Nomad Abu Dhabi Named Best Industry Event at Monocle Design Awards 2026

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Nomad Abu Dhabi has officially been recognised as one of the most compelling cultural platforms of the year, taking home the title of Best Industry Event at the Monocle Design Awards 2026. The accolade follows a debut that didn’t just introduce the fair to the region — it redefined what a design event can feel like.

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For its Middle Eastern edition, Nomad stepped into an unexpected setting: the decommissioned Terminal 1 of Zayed International Airport, originally designed by Paul Andreu. A space that could have easily leaned into spectacle instead became something far more nuanced. The terminal’s expansive concrete architecture was softened through careful curation — objects placed with restraint, light used as a material, and scale handled with quiet confidence. The result was a rare balance: monumental yet intimate, raw yet refined.

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Nomad’s enduring appeal lies in its clarity of vision. It doesn’t simply present collectible design — it frames it as a cultural language. A chair, a vessel, a textile are treated not as standalone objects, but as carriers of context, history, and meaning. In Abu Dhabi, this perspective found a particularly resonant setting. Positioned between heritage and forward-looking ambition, the city amplified the fair’s central idea: that design is inseparable from the world it inhabits.

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The fair’s debut in the region, first announced in late 2025, marked a significant shift for Nomad. After years of moving between destinations like St. Moritz, Monaco, Venice, and Cannes, its arrival in the Middle East introduced a new geographical and cultural layer. Around twenty-five galleries and institutions participated, bringing together regional names such as The Third Line, Leila Heller Gallery, and Nika Project Space alongside contributors from cities including Cairo, Athens, Istanbul, Milan, and Paris. Despite the diversity, the narrative remained cohesive — design positioned as culture rather than commodity.

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Beyond the exhibitions, a series of Special Projects gave the fair its depth. Site-specific installations responded directly to the architecture of the terminal, creating a dialogue between space and object. Works by A.A. Murakami and Trameexplored layered spatial experiences, while a nomadic library by Dongola Limited Editions offered a quieter, more reflective counterpoint. Regional initiatives such as House of Artisans, Irthi, and Parsa brought material knowledge and craftsmanship into focus, grounding the international dialogue in local practice.

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For a brief moment, Terminal 1 became something entirely different from its original purpose — not a place of departure and arrival, but a space for exchange. Ideas moved through it, intersected, and evolved. In many ways, that transformation captured the essence of Nomad itself.

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The fair is set to return to Abu Dhabi from 19 to 22 November 2026 — and expectations are already firmly set.

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