Xposure 2026: Showcasing Emirati Creativity from Cosmos to Micro-Worlds

Explore Xposure 2026 in Sharjah, where Emirati photographers showcase cosmic, microscopic, and emotional narratives at the decade milestone visual storytelling festival.

Xposure 2026, the landmark 10th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival, returns to Sharjah from January 29 to February 4, 2026 at Aljada, igniting curiosity and creativity across the UAE’s artistic landscape. This year’s event celebrates a decade of visual storytelling, spotlighting Emirati talent that bridges science, nature, and emotion through powerful photography.

Xposure 2026: A Decade of Visual Storytelling

Since its inception, Xposure has championed the spirit of exploration—curiosity in Emirati culture that predates the camera, shaping dynamic stories across land, sea, and tradition. In Xposure 2026, three visionaries—Yousuf Al Qasimi, Rashed Alsumaiti, and Ghada Ahmed Al Qasimi—redefine the boundaries of photography. Their works traverse the infinite night sky, the intricate world of microscopic crystals, and the depths of human emotion, all while reflecting the UAE’s heritage and progressive artistic voice.

Looking to the Skies: Yousuf Al Qasimi

Astrophotographer Yousuf Al Qasimi, a distinguished member of the Emirates Astronomical Society, invites viewers to rediscover wonder at the cosmos. His gallery, The Sky – Within and Beyond, features breathtaking photographs of nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, and meteor showers—each image a testament to humanity’s timeless fascination with the stars. Beyond stillness, Al Qasimi’s storm-chasing ventures document extreme weather, framing moments where atmosphere and energy collide. Notable works include:

Abandoned Gas Station: The Perseid Meteor Shower over Sharjah’s desert, juxtaposed with remnants of local culture.
A Rare Comet Above Sharjah: Capturing Comet ATLAS A3 in November 2024, set against the Mleiha Desert and UAE’s heritage landmarks.

Both featured in the Nature Zone at Xposure 2026, Al Qasimi’s images revive the UAE’s relationship with the celestial world.

Worlds Within Worlds: Rashed Alsumaiti

While astronomy expands our horizons, Rashed Alsumaiti turns his lens inward—into the microscopic. Using advanced micro-photography, he transforms ordinary materials like salt and vitamin C crystals into vivid landscapes and abstract forms. Alsumaiti’s Dancing Crystals exhibition, at the Fine Art and Creative Expression Zone, blurs the boundary between science and art. Highlights include:

Solar Veins: A stone-like crystal layered with metallic tones and spectral bursts, resembling a mineral heart.
Feathered Spectrum: Feather-like rainbow patterns within crystalline structures, illuminated by dramatic light.

Alsumaiti’s photographic journey evolved from landscapes to macro and micro explorations, consistently driven by curiosity and technical experimentation.

The Weight of Absence: Ghada Ahmed Al Qasimi

For Ghada Ahmed Al Qasimi, photography is an emotional odyssey. Her series, Silence, exhibited at the Fine Art and Creative Expression Zone, delves into themes of memory, presence, and absence. Through restrained compositions and subtle repetition, she invites viewers to pause and reflect, rather than imposing direct narratives. Evocative works include:

What Remains: Time lingers, as fragments of personal history replay through contemplative imagery.
At the Threshold: The interplay of darkness and light at a doorway, marking transformation and nostalgia within a home.

Al Qasimi embodies the new generation of Emirati artists: confident, introspective, and willing to traverse the unexplored.

A Confident Creative Future at Xposure 2026

Together, these three Emirati photographers stand at the crossroads of heritage and innovation, reinforcing the UAE’s reputation for creative expression fueled by curiosity and science. Xposure 2026 provides an essential platform for local and international artists to exchange ideas, showcase new work, and chart the future of visual storytelling. Registration is now open at xposure.net. Don’t miss your chance to experience a celebration of creativity at the heart of Sharjah.

FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Xposure 2026

What is Xposure 2026?
Xposure 2026 is the 10th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival in Sharjah, celebrating a decade of visual storytelling with exhibitions from Emirati and global photographers.
How to attend Xposure 2026?
Register online at xposure.net for tickets, updates, and workshop schedules. The festival runs from January 29 to February 4, 2026 at Aljada, Sharjah.
Why Xposure 2026?
Xposure 2026 offers a platform for creative dialogue, showcasing the UAE’s leading photographers and celebrating diverse perspectives in visual arts and science.
When is Xposure 2026?
Xposure 2026 takes place from January 29 to February 4, 2026.