Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 theme 'In Interludes and Transitions' revealed with preliminary artist list
Scheduled to commence on January 30, 2026, the third Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale will take place in the JAX District of Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The artistic directors, Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, have chosen the theme 'In Interludes and Transitions,' which delves into the concepts of movement and stillness. The Arabic phrase 'fil hil wal terhal' symbolizes nomadic cultures, while the English title is inspired by musical terminology. Attendees can expect a variety of materials, sonic practices, exhibition spaces, music, poetry readings, and a symposium. Among the featured artists are Pio Abad, Rand Abdul Jabbar, Yussef Agbo-Ola, and others. The event is organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation to showcase a global perspective from Diriyah.
Key facts
- The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale's third edition opens January 30, 2026
- Theme is 'In Interludes and Transitions' with Arabic title 'fil hil wal terhal'
- Takes place in JAX District, Diriyah, northwest of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Artistic directors are Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed
- Initial artist list includes 32 artists and collectives
- Arabic title originates from nomadic communities in the Arabian Peninsula
- Biennale features exhibition spaces, music recitals, poetry, symposium, and arenas
- Majority of visitors are local and regional
Entities
Artists
- Nora Razian
- Sabih Ahmed
- Pio Abad
- Rand Abdul Jabbar
- Yussef Agbo-Ola
- Ahaad Alamoudi
- Afra Al Dhaheri
- Mohammed Alhamdan
- Ruba Al-Sweel
- Taysir Batniji
- Raven Chacon
- Rohini Devasher
- Merve Ertufan
- Ivana Franke
- Rahima Gambo
- Petrit Halilaj
- Aziz Hazara
- Alana Hunt
- Yazan Khalili
- George Mahashe
- Théo Mercier
- Nour Mobarak
- Nancy Mounir
- Hussein Nassereddine
- Daniel Otero Torres
- Thảo Nguyên Phan
- Gala Porras-Kim
- Sarker Protick
- Oscar Santillán
- Trương Công Tùng
- Agustina Woodgate
- Yu Ji
- Donna Haraway
- Sandhini Poddar
- Pacita Abad
- Abdullah Miniawy Trio
- Etel Adnan
- Leen Ajlan
- Elyas Alavi
- Shadia Alem
- Mohammad Al-Ghamdi
- Nouf Al-Harthi
- Ramy Alqthami
- Abdullah Al Saadi
- Lulua Alyahya
- Ismaïl Bahri
- Dineo Seshee Bopape (Raisibe)
- Ayman Yousry Daydban
- Nolan Oswald Dennis
- Eric Gyamfi
- Samia Halaby
- Hazem Harb
- Ho Rui An
- Kamala Ibrahim Ishag
- Amaka Jaji
- Kayfa ta
- Moshekwa Langa
- Daniel Lind-Ramos
- Guadalupe Maravilla
- Naminapu Maymuru-White
- Mochu
- Abdelkarim Qassem
- K P Reji
- Faisal Samra
- Amina Saoudi Aït Khay
- Bogosi Sekhukhuni
- Karan Shrestha
- Elias Sime
- Rajesh Chaitya Vangad
- Müge Yılmaz
- Yussef Agbo-Ola [Olaniyi Studio]
- Mohammed Alhamdan (7amdan)
- Raqs Media Collective
- Wolff Architects
- Formafantasma
- Maan Abu Taleb
- May Makki
- Kabelo Malatsie
- Lantian Xie
- K.P. Reji
- Davide Rivalta
- Mimmo Paladino
- Ivo Andrić
- Federico II di Svevia
- Thao Nguyen Phan
- Điềm Phùng Thị
Institutions
- Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale
- Diriyah Biennale Foundation
- ArtAsiaPacific
- Asia Art Archive
- Ishara Art Foundation
- Art Jameel
- Jameel Arts Centre
- 11th Shanghai Biennale
- Raqs Media Collective
- Olaniyi Studio
- 7amdan
- Wolff Architects
- Formafantasma
- JAX
- Canvas
- JAX District
- ArtReview
- Diriyah Biennale
- Ambasciata d'Italia a Riyadh
- Artribune
- OMA
- Villa Hegra
- Desert X
- Unesco
- Pitt Rivers Museum
- University of Oxford
Locations
- Diriyah
- Riyadh
- Saudi Arabia
- JAX District
- Arabian Peninsula
- Dubai
- United Arab Emirates
- Johannesburg
- South Africa
- London
- United Kingdom
- Singapore
- Lahore
- Pakistan
- Delhi
- India
- Shanghai
- China
- At-Turaif
- JAX
- Gulf
- Kosovo
- Gaza
- Palestine
- Maharashtra
- Gujarat
- El Salvador
- Bahrain
- Iraq
- Middle East
- Europe
- Asia
- Africa
- Latin America
- Mar Rosso
- Oceano Indiano
- Penisola Araba
- Jeddah
- Alserkal Avenue
- Msheireb Downtown
- Doha
- Qatar
- MiZa
- Abu Dhabi
- AlUla
- Vietnam
- France
- Morocco
- Argentina
- Al-Ahsa
- West Africa
- Yoruba
- Abha
- Wadi Hanifah
- Iran
- Puerto Rico
- Colombia
- Ecuador