The competition reflects the ADSW 2027 theme, ‘Securing Systems. Sustaining Growth’
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, hosted by Masdar, has instituted its Fourth Global Digital Art Competition 2026.
One winner and two finalists will be recognized in Abu Dhabi on 13 January during ADSW 2027, and their work will be showcased at the event.
It challenges artists to explore how creativity, technology and human imagination can help build a more resilient and prosperous future.
The competition is part of ADSW’s wider Arts and Culture program. Through digital art, artists can bring sustainability topics to life, offering new perspectives and engaging audiences in new ways.
Five thematic pillars
Artists may respond to one or more of ADSW’s five thematic pillars: Future Energy Systems, Advanced Technology and AI, Water, Food and Resource Security, Investment and Infrastructure, and Human Development and Prosperity.
Submissions may include static or moving-image works, interactive and generative art, immersive experiences and web-based pieces. Artists must identify any AI, generative or creative-coding tools used and explain their contribution to the work.
Assessment
Submissions will be assessed by a panel of leading voices from the international arts community: Dyala Nusseibeh, Director, Frieze Abu Dhabi; Kawthar Bin Sulayem, Founder and CEO, District1795; Hamad Al Shamsi, Artist; Anna Magritskaya, Managing Director, Theatre of Digital Art; Khawla Abou Saleh, Visual Artist and Creative Director; and Diaa Allam, Calligraphy Artist. The panel will consider concept, artistic vision and originality, impact, representation and accessibility.
The competition is organized in partnership with District1795, MENA’s first tech ecosystem dedicated to arts and culture, building the digital infrastructure behind the region’s creative economy.
