The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has announced that the third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale will open on 30 January 2026 in Riyadh’s JAX District. This upcoming edition promises to be its most ambitious yet, with an expanded curatorial team and newly commissioned works that bring global and local voices together.

Leading the artistic direction are Nora Razian, Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions and Programmes at Art Jameel, and Sabih Ahmed, curator and Projects Advisor at the Ishara Art Foundation. They are joined by a multidisciplinary team that includes novelist and Ma3azef co-founder Maan Abu Taleb, curator May Makki, former Kunsthalle Bern director Kabelo Malatsie, Dubai-based multimedia artist Lantian Xie, and Milan-based exhibition designer Sammy Zarka. Together, they bring a mix of expertise in literature, music, architecture, and visual arts, reflecting the Biennale’s goal of breaking boundaries between disciplines.

Anhar Salem 3, Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, Photo by Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation(1)

Anhar Salem 1, Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, Photo by Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Arcangelo Sassolino 1, Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, Photo by Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Photos: Islamic Arts Biennale archive, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation

Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, said that the curators would create "new pathways for artists and audiences in Saudi Arabia" thanks to their diverse backgrounds.

The 2026 edition will feature both new commissions and existing works from Saudi and international artists, staged across JAX District’s industrial heritage spaces. Since its launch, the Biennale has become one of the region’s most significant cultural events, drawing artists, curators, and collectors from around the world. The decision to expand the curatorial team highlights a continued commitment to experimentation, inclusivity, and collaboration, while strengthening Saudi Arabia’s growing presence on the global art stage.

With its scale and ambition, Diriyah Biennale 2026 is set to be a key moment in the Kingdom’s cultural calendar, offering audiences fresh ways to experience contemporary art in a rapidly evolving local and international landscape.

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