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ABU DHABI/AD MEDIA OFFICE
The Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi’s (DCT Abu Dhabi) seventh edition of its leading global forum, Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, will take place from April 27 to 29 2025 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, within Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, featuring panels, case studies, creative conversations, artist talks and workshops.
The annual event convenes international leaders from cultural and creative industries to explore ways in which culture can transform societies and communities worldwide. The forum reflects DCT Abu Dhabi’s commitment to preserving, protecting, and promoting Abu Dhabi’s rich cultural heritage while fostering creativity and innovation to build a more inclusive and sustainable global cultural future.
With the 2025 theme Culture for Humanity and Beyond, the summit will explore the relationship between culture and humanity in an unprecedented period of global transformation. The summit’s programme will inspire and inform participants to reconsider the meaning of freedom and human dignity in today’s world. The panels, case studies, artist talks and workshops will prompt collaboration, to explore shared values that create a sustainable shared future for all.
Day one will be focused on Reshaping the Cultural Landscape. With the backdrop of a digital revolution, economic inequality and geopolitical volatility—cultural identities and societal values are being redefined. These sessions will explore the production, reception and consumption of culture, and discuss the role the creative sector can play in guiding humanity towards a confident future.
Day two will explore The New Frontiers of a Post-human Environment. Technological advancements—including AI, biotechnology and environmental studies—raise questions around the essence of humanity. The sessions will examine how culture can positively influence, how we experience these changes and explore how the cultural and creative sectors are adapting their business models, infrastructures and policies to seize subsequent opportunities.
Day three will examine New Frames to Redefine Culture for Humanity and Beyond. The sessions will explore how innovative, collaborative efforts and the rise of glocal approaches can foster resilience, inclusion and sustainability. They will also examine how cultural innovation and technology can help reshape narratives and create common ground.
The event’s key global partners include UNESCO, The Economist Impact, the Design Museum, Google, Solomon R Guggenheim Museum and Foundation and Recording Academy. Additional partners include Image Nation Abu Dhabi, International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies, Cultural Foundation, The National, the Club de Madrid, Abrahamic Family House, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and Institut Français.