This week, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale returns for its third edition.

Taking place in JAX District in Riyadh from January 30 to May 2. Set within historic Diriyah, this edition, titled In Interludes and Transitions, focuses on ideas of movement, pause, and change.

Organised by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the Contemporary Art Biennale forms part of a wider cultural plan to establish Jax District as a key destination for arts. While international in scope, the Biennale remains closely connected to the region’s history and lived experiences.

The 2026 Theme: "In Interludes and Transitions"

Biennale Theme

Sabih Ahmed

Nora Rizan

Led by artistic directors Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, the 2026 edition takes its title from a common Arabic expression linked to travel and temporary settlement.

Titled في الحِلّ والترحال (In Interludes and Transitions), this year’s curatorial framework is inspired by a colloquial Arabic phrase that describes the rhythmic cycles of nomadic life — specifically the movement between setting up camp (Al Hill) and departing on a journey (Al Tarhal). This reference reflects the region’s long relationship with migration, trade, and the circulation of ideas. Through artworks and collaborations, the Biennale examines how people and cultures have moved across places and generations, and how those movements continue to shape identity today.

Unlike previous editions, the 2026 edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Biennale places a heavy emphasis on musicality, sound, and the "procession." This edition will explores how knowledge, stories, and social histories are transmitted through oral traditions, dance, and song. The exhibition is designed not as a linear walk-through, but as a "choreography" where visitors move through layered histories and premonitions.

What to Expect

Workshops - Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2

Workshops - Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 1

Rather than following a traditional exhibition format, In Interludes and Transitions is designed as an experience that unfolds as visitors move through the space. The exhibition design, developed by Formafantasma, brings together elements of the past and present, creating an environment where memory, history, and contemporary expression coexist.

This edition brings works by artists, musicians, filmmakers, architects, and writers, many of whom explore movement in different ways. More than 20 new works have been commissioned specifically for this edition, relating to social, environmental, and technological changes shaping the world today.

Alongside the exhibition, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation presents a series of public programmes to engage a wide audience. Designed for children, families, creatives, and the wider community, the programmes include workshops, talks, performances, and film screenings.

Film Screenings

Hijra: Presented by The Red Sea Film Foundation, offering an evening of cinema within the Biennale context.
February 7, 2026 from 9pm - 11pm at the Auditorium in the Public Programs Building

Conversations

Scales of Transformation: A conversation led by Lantian Xie and guests, examining transformation across artistic and cultural scales.
January 30, 2026 from 4pm - 4.45pm at the Auditorium in the Public Programs Building

Closeness of the Red Tide: A performance by Nouf Al-Harthi and collaborator, responding to environmental proximity and collective presence.
January 31, 2026 from 6pm - 6.45pm at the Auditorium in the Public Programs Building

Archives to Algorithms: Media, Memory, and Making Publics: Maan Abu Taleb and speakers reflect on how archives evolve in the age of algorithms and digital publics.
January 31, 2026 from 7pm - 7.45pm at the Auditorium in the Public Programs Building

Media in Transition: A discussion led by Mona Al-Jadir exploring shifting media landscapes and cultural production.
January 31, 2026 from 8pm - 8.45pm at the Auditorium in the Public Programs Building

Workshops

Embroider Your Archive: Maryam Khaled leads a tactile exploration of memory, storytelling, and textile practices.
February 2, 2026 from 7pm - 10pm in Workshop 1, in the Public Programs Building

Create Your Own Planet: Biomaterials Workshop: Hosted by Naifactorylab, focusing on material experimentation and ecological thinking.
February 5, 2026 from 7pm - 10pm in Workshop 1, in the Public Programs Building

Cartographies of Fish and Birds: Mariam Alnoaimi invites participants to map natural and imagined ecosystems.
February 6, 2026 from 3pm - 6pm in Workshop 1, in the Public Programs Building

See Like an Artist: Part of the Nikon Youth Kids Program, encouraging young participants to engage visually with their surroundings.
February 6, 2026 from 4pm - 6pm in Studio Youth in the Public Programs Building

Sketching with Raya Kassissieh: An afternoon of observational drawing led by Raya Kassissieh
February 7, 2026 from 4pm - 7pm in Print Workshop in the Public Programs Building

Create Your Own Planet: Science Workshop: A playful, educational session hosted by Naifactorylab.
February 7, 2026 from 4pm - 7pm in Workshop 1 in the Public Programs Building

Snap and Tell: Photography Workshop for Kids: A Nikon Youth initiative introducing storytelling through photography.
February 7, 2026 from 4pm - 6pm in Studio Youth in the Public Programs Building

Do I Need a Ticket?

General admission to the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 is completely free and open to the public. To ensure a seamless experience, we recommend booking your complimentary timed-entry tickets online in advance. Some programmes including workshops, talks, performances, and screenings may require separate registration, which will also be available through the Biennale’s official website closer to the event dates.

Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026
2598 Muhammad Ibn Rashid Al Uraini,
Al Diriyah Al Jadidah, 7120 Riyadh

Click the link to schedule your visit

@biennale_sa
biennale.org.sa/en

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