Each year on November 18, the world celebrates the International Day of Islamic Art, a UNESCO initiative dedicated to recognising the extraordinary artistic traditions that have flourished across the Islamic world for more than thirteen centuries.
Each year on November 18, the world celebrates the International Day of Islamic Art, a UNESCO initiative dedicated to recognising the extraordinary artistic traditions that have flourished across the Islamic world for more than thirteen centuries.
November 18, 2025
Each year on November 18, the world celebrates the International Day of Islamic Art, a UNESCO initiative dedicated to recognising the extraordinary artistic traditions that have flourished across the Islamic world for more than thirteen centuries.
Rooted in principles of harmony, geometry and the poetic interplay of pattern and light, Islamic art is unified not by geography but by a shared visual philosophy. Intricate star patterns, arabesques and flowing calligraphy reflect a profound belief that beauty mirrors the order and unity of creation. These motifs link regions from Andalusia and Persia to the Maghreb, the Levant, South Asia and Southeast Asia, each contributing its own materials, techniques and artistic sensibilities.
Islamic art is a vast and enduring artistic tradition defined not by geography or era, but by a shared visual language rooted in harmony, geometry and spiritual symbolism. From intricate arabesques and interlaced star patterns to majestic calligraphy and luminous architectural forms, it reflects a deep cultural belief that beauty mirrors the order of creation. Flourishing across regions from Andalusia to Persia, the Maghreb to South Asia, Islamic art encompasses everything from ceramics, textiles and woodcarving to metalwork, manuscripts and monumental architecture—each shaped by local techniques yet united by a timeless pursuit of balance, refinement and meaning.
A major celebration is the annual Islamic Art Week 2025, held 15–21 November 2025 as a fully online global event organised by the Global Centre of Islamic Art (GCIA). Featuring more than 35 live workshops, masterclasses and panel discussions, the programme brings together artists and scholars from around the world to explore Islamic geometry, calligraphy, biomorphic design and applied arts. Participants can attend live for free, engage directly with creators and later access a replay bundle. From constructing 4- and 6-fold geometric patterns to block-printing and designing stained-glass pieces inspired by Islamic motifs, the agenda welcomes both beginners and seasoned practitioners.
Together, these events demonstrate how the International Day of Islamic Art bridges past and present. Museums, artists and communities worldwide use the occasion to spotlight everything from historic Qur’anic manuscripts and Ottoman ceramics to the work of contemporary figures such as eL Seed, Shirin Neshat, Lalla Essaydi and Abdulnasser Gharem — artists who continue to reinterpret Islamic aesthetics for a modern era.
