Diriyah Biennale Foundation Reveals Artist Lineup for 2026 Edition

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has announced the title, curatorial framework, and preliminary artist lineup for the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026, marking its third edition. Titled ‘In Interludes and Transitions’ (في الحِلّ والترحال), the Biennale will take place across JAX District in Diriyah, a creative hub with deep industrial heritage, from January 30th, 2026.

Curated by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed alongside a team of international curators, this edition centres on movement, processions, and cultural transmission. The theme draws inspiration from nomadic traditions in the Arabian Peninsula — specifically the cycles of encampment and migration — and expands them into a global dialogue on transformation, continuity, and resilience.

“For the past five years, we have been communicating with audiences in Saudi Arabia and beyond from our home in Diriyah’s JAX District," Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, said. "Today, we are strengthening our existing connections and fostering new ones, and this edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale places this aspect of our work at the fore, with its emphasis on transmission and the movement of cultures.”

The Biennale’s scenography, designed by Italian studio Formafantasma, weaves together sound, visual art, music, and performance to create what organisers describe as a “choreography of histories, ancestors, dreams, and premonitions.” Visitors can expect immersive installations that span mediums and disciplines, positioning the event as one of the region’s most expansive contemporary art platforms.

Participating artists from the region include Ahaad Alamoudi, Afra Al Dhaheri, Mohammed Alhamdan (7amdan), Ruba Al-Sweel, Rand Abdul Jabbar, and Nancy Mounir, alongside Taysir Batniji, Hussein Nassereddine, and Raqs Media Collective. Their works reflect diverse perspectives on identity, geography, and the evolving cultural languages of the Arab world.

The international lineup features Pio Abad, Raven Chacon, Rohini Devasher, Petrit Halilaj, Aziz Hazara, Thảo Nguyên Phan, Gala Porras-Kim, Daniel Otero Torres, Alana Hunt, George Mahashe, Théo Mercier, Oscar Santillán, Ivana Franke, Rahima Gambo, Merve Ertufan, Sarker Protick, Agustina Woodgate, Yu Ji, and architectural collaborators Wolff Architects.