Nahla Zayed Five women and three men artists in dialogue ancient Egypt, as the 2026 season extends from the Giza Plateau to Downtown Cairo, the Egyptian Museum and Historic Cairo
Nadine Abdel Ghaffar: Forever Is Now 06 marks a defining new chapter for Art D’Égypte, from our first cooperation protocol with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a women-led edition uniting eight artists from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Ambassador Wael El-Naggar: There’s no better way to connect Egypt’s rich culture and heritage with the world than through the arts, and Forever is Now brings artists and art collectors from around the world, pioneered by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we want to support her and share in this success.
Cairo, 4th of October In front of the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, “Forever Is Now” returns for its sixth edition, and this year it is led by women. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and Experience Egypt, and the patronage of UNESCO, Art D’Égypte by Culturvator held a press conference at The Diplomatic Club to announce that the exhibition will take place at the Giza Pyramids from November 4th to November 28th, 2026, with five women and three men among its eight participating artists. The conference attendees were: Ambassador Wael El-Naggar, Assistant Foreign Minister for Cultural Relations, Mr. Paul Coustere, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, Attaché from the French Embassy in Egypt, Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of The Grand Egyptian Museum, Sawsan Morad, Editor in Chief El Beit Magazine, Jiang Qiong Er, participating artist in Forever is Now, and a number of Arab and foreign artists, partners and media representatives.
Abdel Ghaffar revealed the eight artists who will show their work at the Pyramids, among them Jiang Qiong Er from China co-founded Shang Xia with Hermès, and her work is held in the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Reham Abo Elazm from Egypt brings a Cairo-based voice to the Plateau through work that combines painting and sculpture. British-Jamaican artist Rochelle-Webster Nembhard creates performance and sculpture from earth, clay and stone as living carriers of memory. British-French artist Charlotte Colbert is a multi-award-winning filmmaker whose work has been shown at the V&A, Frieze and Art Basel. French-American artist Raphaële Shirley has presented her work at the State Hermitage Museum and the Queens Museum. Bernar Venet from France, the most internationally exhibited living French artist, created the 60-metre Arc Majeur, hailed as the world’s largest public artwork. Fellow French artist Geoffroy Pithon has seen his immersive painted environments enter the collections of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Chengdu Museum of Contemporary Art. Seçkin Pirim from Türkiye, whose work draws on Rumi’s philosophy, has exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery and Istanbul Modern.
Beyond the Plateau, the 2026 season spreads across the city. Abdel Ghaffar announced the sixth edition of the “Cairo International Art District” (CIAD) from October 11th to November 8th, 2026, at three locations in Downtown Cairo: The Factory, Kodak Passage and Access Art Space. This year’s edition also features “The Geography of the Unseen,” a digital artist cFiompetition created with artist Hani Mahfouz and in collaboration with TradeLine, which invited artists to turn the tangible memory of Downtown Cairo into original works made entirely on iPad. Ten selected works will be exhibited during CIAD, and three winners will be announced at the district, with the first-place winner receiving an AI course scholarship supported by TradeLine.
At the Egyptian Museum, the second edition of “Formed by Dialogue” will run from November 5th to November 14th, 2026, bringing together heritage, art, design, fashion and jewellery. The project explores how design traditions evolve through exchange between cultures, and invites designers and artists from around the world to reflect on design and create a dialogue.
In Historic Cairo, Art D’Égypte will launch the very first edition of “Crafts Re-Imagined” at Bait Al Suheimy, from October 23rd to November 8th, 2026, building on the “Re-Imagined Narratives” exhibition held on Al-Muizz Street in 2019. The exhibition pairs contemporary artists and designers with master craftsmen to create a sustainable, collaborative model rooted in heritage and innovation. It presents crafts such as woodwork and stone carving, glassblowing, weaving and tapestry, and khayamiya as living, evolving disciplines, and through co-created works it aims to open new markets for artisans and strengthen the local creative economy.
Abdel Ghaffar also thanked all of the partners and supporters who make the season possible, including our main sponsor and real estate partner LMD for the second year in a row, our gold sponsor and official banking partner Suez Canal Bank, Orascom Pyramids Entertainment, our main automotive partner BMW, our insurance partner Barta and Partners, official transportation partner Abo Ghaly Motors, official lifestyle partner Vodafone, Alumil, Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment Downtown, Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, Nestlé, BICC Cables, official carrier EgyptAir, lighting partner Signify, logistics partner DHL, educational partner The American University in Cairo, official marble and stone partner Marmonil, merchandise partner House Babylon, institutional partner the Portuguese Embassy and Cultural Institute, Don Tanani, Salon Al Sagheer, FP7, Egypt Film Commission, Elbeit Magazine as printing partner, and the media partners: MO4 Network, our exclusive media partner, and TV5 Monde.
Assistant Foreign Minister for Cultural Relations, Ambassador Wael El-Naggar added: There’s no better way to connect Egypt’s rich culture and heritage with the world than through the arts, and Forever is Now brings artists and art collectors from around the world, pioneered by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we want to support her and share in this success.
About Art D’Egypte by CulturVator:
Founded by French-Egyptian curator Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, Art D’Égypte is a multidisciplinary platform dedicated to supporting Egyptian arts and cultural heritage. Its flagship annual exhibition, Forever Is Now, staged at historic sites such as the Pyramids of Giza, bridges Egypt’s past with contemporary art and celebrates its 5th anniversary in 2025. Since 2019, Art D’Égypte has expanded internationally, showcasing Egyptian artists at major art fairs, hosting exhibitions abroad, and launching initiatives including podcasts, lecture series, and community programs. Operating under UNESCO patronage, its projects are rooted in sustainability, accessibility, and cultural dialogue. CulturVator, its sister platform, unites these initiatives under one umbrella, collaborating with public and private partners to activate cultural spaces and foster global creative exchange across visual arts, design, film, heritage, and music.
Press Contact: press@artdegypte.com
