Burj Khalifa lights up as ISEA2026 runs to 15 November

Burj Khalifa and ISEA2026 are linked by a projection show that marked the opening of Dubai's 31st International Symposium on Electronic/Emerging Art. The symposium continues until 15 November 2026, giving visitors in Dubai a current cultural reference beyond the tower's regular observation experience.

ISEA2026 continues across Dubai until 15 November

ISEA2026 began in Dubai on 6 November 2026 and runs through 15 November 2026. The event brings together artists, researchers, innovators and specialists working across art, science and technology, with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority as the presenting cultural body.

The opening projection on the tower used visual compositions inspired by stars, light and the symposium's digital identity. The programme's theme is ELYAH: Constellating Place, Data, and Identity, while the related interactive ELYAH experience opened at ARTE MUSEUM Dubai. Gulf News reports on the projection and the symposium's closing date.

How the tower connects to Dubai's digital-art programme

The event's artistic programme includes more than 100 artworks across Dubai, including installations, performances and interactive experiences. Its online academic programme includes 145 research papers, more than 50 artist and practitioner talks and more than 10 workshops.

That structure makes the tower's role precise: it is the illuminated public-facing backdrop for the opening, while the wider symposium is distributed across the city and online. The four themes are Celestial Dialogues, Charting Constellations, Eco-Tech Futures and Starlinked Worlds, tying the building's night-time facade to a programme about data, identity and place.

Emaar Properties says the skyscraper was officially unveiled on 4 January 2010 and reaches 828 metres (2,717 ft). The developer identifies Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as the architectural firm and Adrian Smith as the consulting design partner. Emaar's building profile gives the confirmed height, opening date and observation-level information.

Visiting Burj Khalifa: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• ISEA2026 runs from 6 November to 15 November 2026 across Dubai; the projection at Burj Khalifa marked the symposium's opening.
• The projection was a visual presentation on the tower's facade, while the wider programme includes installations, performances, talks and workshops at locations across Dubai and online.
• Burj Khalifa stands in Downtown Dubai and is served by the Dubai Metro Red Line at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station. Emaar also lists RTA bus routes F13 and 27.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

For travellers planning a cultural visit, the practical distinction is between the tower facade and the symposium's distributed venues. The event's date gives the tower a current connection to Dubai's digital-art calendar, while the building remains a 2010 landmark designed for observation, offices, hospitality and residences.

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Frequently asked questions about Burj Khalifa

When does ISEA2026 take place at Burj Khalifa?

ISEA2026 runs in Dubai from 6 November to 15 November 2026, and the tower projection marked its opening.

What is Burj Khalifa?

It is a Dubai skyscraper that Emaar Properties identifies as 828 metres high and officially unveiled on 4 January 2010.

Where is Burj Khalifa and how do you get there?

The tower is in Downtown Dubai, near Dubai Mall, and is served by the Red Line's Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station.