The second edition of the Islamic Biennale is slated to take place from January 25 to May 25 in 2025.

A highly anticipated event in the arts and culture calendar, the Islamic Arts Biennale is an exceptional cultural event showcasing the rich heritage and diversity of Islamic art.

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Returning to the impressive Western Hajj Terminal at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz Airport, the biennial exhibition will feature a wide variety of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, calligraphy, and textiles, from both contemporary and historical periods.

The inaugural edition of the Islamic Biennale in early 2023, saw more than 600,000 visitors from around the globe pass through the showcase, and this second edition is set to draw an even larger number.

Islamic Biennale 2025 - Theme

The second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale will offer visitors the unique opportunity to explore the beauty and complexity of Islamic art, and its significant contribution to world culture.

Under the theme of 'And All That is in Between,' the 2025 Islamic Biennale is set to delve deeper into the artistic heritage of the Islamic world, pivoting on the works of local and regional creative and their captivating exploration of Islamic art's rich legacy through vibrant contemporary expressions.

Islamic Biennale 2025 - Art

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This year's edition will explore the theme of 'And All That is in Between,' and showcase more than 500 Islamic objects and ancient artefacts alongside contemporary creations, and pieces from 30 international art institutions from countries including Denmark, Egypt, France, Greece, Indonesia, Palestine, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, United Kingdom, the United States and more.

For the duration of the Biennale, a selection of renowned historical and religious artefacts will be on show from museums and institutions around the world including the Louvre Museum, and London's Victoria and Albert Museum, as well as collections devoted specifically to Islamic arts and cultures, such as the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Learning and Islamic Research (Timbuktu), and Doha's Museum of Islamic Art for example.

The second edition of the Biennale will once again foster relationships and bring together leading institutions from across Saudi Arabia, including the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) (Dhahran), the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries (Madinah), and the King Fahad National Library (Riyadh), while also offering visitors a chance to see objects and works of art from the Holy sites of Makkah and Madinah.

Islamic Biennale 2025 - Artists

The Islamic Arts Biennale will feature new artistic creations and works by over 20 artists from various locations in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf region, and more internationally. This year's edition will showcase commissions presented by talented creatives such as Fatma Abdulhadi, Saeed Gebaan, Nour Jaouda, Tomo Nasseri and Charwei Tsai to name just a few.

Similar to the last edition, the Islamic Arts Biennale will give these artists a platform to showcase their works. A celebration of Saudi and Islamic artworks and creations, the Islamic Biennale offers these artists access to a global audience, and introduces the creatives to the local audience, further fostering cultural exchange and encouraging discussions on diverse perspectives.

Islamic Biennale 2025, from January 25 - May 25, 2025
Western Hajj Terminal, King Abdulaziz International Airport,
@biennale_sa
biennale.org.sa

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