Noor Riyadh 2025 Announces Artist Lineup for Its Fifth Edition
Running November 20th to December 6th, 2025 across six Riyadh sites, this edition is themed In the Blink of an Eye and includes a tribute to Safeya Binzagr.
Noor Riyadh, the annual international festival of light and art, has announced the 59 artists taking part in its 2025 edition, running from November 20th to December 6th across Riyadh. Curated by Mami Kataoka, Li Zhenhua, and Sara Almutlaq, this year’s programme will feature 60 artworks, 35 of them newly commissioned, by artists from 24 countries, under the theme “In the Blink of an Eye.”
The lineup brings together a dynamic mix of local and international names, including Saad Al-Howede, Monira Al-Qadiri, Abdulrahman Al-Soliman, James Clar, Ivana Franke, fuse*, Ayoung Kim, Shinji Ohmaki, Michelangelo Pistoletto, and Muhannad Shono. A special installation will also pay tribute to the late Safeya Binzagr (1940–2024), a pioneer of Saudi modern art and the first Saudi woman to hold a solo exhibition in 1968.
“Noor Riyadh is defined by its artists—their ideas, their courage, their vision,” said festival director Nouf Almoneef. “Each work captures the city’s momentum through light, reminding us that creativity is a universal language that connects cultures and inspires dialogue.”
Mami Kataoka, the festival’s curatorial advisory lead, added: “Light is both a medium and a metaphor for transformation. In the Blink of an Eye reflects how quickly perception can shift—offering a moment to pause within change and find beauty in evolution.”
Installations will be spread across six locations: Qasr Al-Hokm District, King Abdulaziz Historical Center, stc Metro Station, KAFD Metro Station, Al-Faisaliah Tower, and JAX District.
Presented under the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Riyadh Art, Noor Riyadh continues to be one of the city’s defining cultural events. Since its launch, Riyadh Art has showcased over 550 artworks by 500 artists from Saudi Arabia and beyond, drawing more than 9.6 million visitors to date.
