The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced that the seventh edition of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi will take place from 27 to 29 April 2025 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, located within the Saadiyat Cultural District. This year’s summit, themed “Culture for Humanity and Beyond,” aims to explore the evolving relationship between culture and humanity amid significant global transformations.
The summit will convene renowned artists, leaders, intellectuals, and creatives for three days of panels, creative conversations, case studies, artist talks, and workshops. Participants will share perspectives on reimagining the future as traditional paradigms become obsolete, prompting a collective rethinking of human emancipation and humanism to establish a shared sustainable future.
Day One: Reshaping the Cultural Landscape
The first day will focus on “reshaping the cultural landscape.” As digital revolutions, economic inequalities, and geopolitical volatility continue to redefine cultural identities and societal values, sessions will examine the impact of these shifts on the production, reception, and consumption of culture. Discussions will also address the role of the creative sector in guiding humanity through uncertainty towards a confident future.
Day Two: New Frontiers of a Post-Human Environment
The second day will explore “the new frontiers of a post-human environment.” Advancements in technology, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and environmental studies, are redefining the essence of humanity. Sessions will investigate how culture can ensure these changes enhance the human experience and how the cultural and creative sectors are adapting their business models, infrastructures, and policies to seize the opportunities these new frontiers present.
Day Three: New Frames to Redefine Culture for Humanity and Beyond
The final day will examine “new frames to redefine Culture for Humanity and Beyond.” Discussions will focus on how innovative, collaborative efforts and the rise of ‘glocal’ approaches can foster resilience, inclusion, and sustainability. Sessions will also consider how cultural innovation and technology can help reshape narratives and create new common ground to overcome global polarisation, offering tested models for thriving in a rapidly changing world.
Global Partnerships
The summit’s key global partners include UNESCO, The Economist Impact, the Design Museum, Google, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and the Recording Academy. Additional partners encompass Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies, the Cultural Foundation, The National, the Club de Madrid, the Abrahamic Family House, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, and Institut Français.
Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is an annual global forum that brings together international leaders from the 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.
