In Ai 2026 (build 30) a new option was presented, 'Show Artboard name on canvas', in Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display, enabled by default, following this request:
Provide an option for making artboard names / numbers visible on the artboard (like when editing artboards), https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/40405873

While it’s great and all, these new subtle captions replace the old 'label' ones we used to get when enabling Artboard tool / mode... and these new captions are rendered BELOW the artwork, even when I specifically want to deal with artboards, not artwork.
These should appear on top when using Artboard Tool, and I’d say these should be old-style labels with clear distinct backgrounds. Gray text of new-style labels is barely seen on gray backgrounds I use a lot.

Why do we need to see the numbers and labels above art?
For this — Display artboard captions when exporting artboards, http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/48094511