The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 opened on January 30, 2026, marking the third edition of this growing cultural event. The exhibition runs until May 2, 2026, and takes place in the JAX District, a former industrial area in Diriyah, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This edition invites visitors to explore art deeply connected to movement, change, and cultural exchange.
Theme: In Interludes and Transitions
The title of the 2026 Biennale, “In Interludes and Transitions” or “في الحِلّ والترحال” in Arabic, reflects life’s rhythms and journeys. It takes inspiration from nomadic cultures of the Arabian Peninsula and the many forms of movement, physical, social, and spiritual, that shape human history.
Co-Artistic Directors Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed lead the event, bringing together artists, musicians, writers, and filmmakers from around the world to create a shared space of thought and creativity.
The Venue: From Industry to Culture
The Biennale is housed at the JAX District, a large site comprising old warehouses and open courtyards that were once used for industrial purposes. These raw spaces have been transformed into flexible galleries and outdoor art areas. This change of use adds meaning to the exhibition, incorporating past and present in a way that mirrors the Biennale’s theme.
Visitors experience art alongside architectural elements that respond to light, texture, and space. Instead of rigid walls, the venue features floating screens, textile partitions, and open views that allow art and people to interact freely.
More Than 65 Artists from Around the World
This year’s Biennale brings together 68 artists from 37 countries. Many of the works were created specifically for this show, with over 25 new commissions.
The art spans many forms, from sculpture and sound installations to performance pieces and interactive works. Each piece reflects a different way of seeing the world, often grounded in personal histories, migration, and connection.
The exhibition design, developed by the studio Formafantasma, transforms the industrial setting of the JAX creative district into a light and fluid landscape of color and shape. Instead of treating the warehouses as fixed structures, the design opens them up into a sequence of curved pathways and layered surfaces. Visitors move through nearly 12,900 square meters of galleries, courtyards, and terraces in a smooth, continuous journey that feels both open and immersive.
Music plays a central role in the 2026 edition of the Biennale. The curatorial approach highlights how spoken word and sound have carried history, memory, and shared knowledge across the Arab world and beyond. One key example is a newly commissioned procession by Saudi artist Mohammed Alhamdan, known as 7amdan, titled Folding the Tents (2026). The work travels through the Wadi Hanifah valley and into the JAX District, ending with a live performance by the Miniawy Trio.
Supported by Lexus, the performance reflects on the idea of the procession as a living tradition. It looks at how this ancient form can shift and adapt within today’s electric and digital culture, drawing clear links between gestures from the past and creative practices of the present.
This design highlights both the industrial origins of the space and the fluid, ever-changing character of contemporary art. It also encourages visitors to slow down, reflect, and engage with each artwork on its own terms.
Beyond visual art, the Biennale connects to sound, poetry, performance, and storytelling. The event underscores the importance of creative exchange in a rapidly changing world. It also reinforces Saudi Arabia’s growing role in the global conversation about contemporary art.
The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 runs until May 2, 2026. Its mix of international voices, installations, and thoughtful design makes it a must-see for anyone interested in modern art, cultural heritage, or artistic innovation in the Middle East.
Credit: Diriyah Biennale Foundation
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