Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 Launches in JAX District Showcasing Global Artistic Voices

The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale officially opened to the public on Friday at Diriyah’s JAX District, bringing together a diverse international lineup of more than 65 artists from over 37 countries. The Biennale will run until May 2, positioning Diriyah once again as a major destination on the global contemporary art calendar.

Titled “In Interludes and Transitions”, the 2026 Biennale is organised by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and led by co-artistic directors Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed. The exhibition is staged within the creative JAX District, located near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, blending contemporary artistic expression with the area’s deep historical significance.

This edition presents more than 25 newly commissioned works spanning a wide range of artistic practices. The participating artists explore themes of movement, migration, memory and transformation, reflecting shifting social, cultural and geographic narratives across the Arab region and beyond.

The curatorial framework draws on the concept of interludes as transitional moments where histories, geographies and cultures intersect. These ideas are expressed through sound, storytelling, performance and visual media, encouraging visitors to experience art as an evolving process rather than a fixed outcome.

Exhibition design for the Biennale was developed by the international design studio Formafantasma, which transformed the JAX District’s industrial architecture into a fluid and immersive environment. Visitors move through curved walkways, open courtyards and terraces across nearly 12,900 square metres of exhibition space.

Sound, musicality and oral traditions play a central role in this edition, highlighting the importance of aural knowledge in preserving and transmitting social histories. These elements underscore the Biennale’s emphasis on rhythm, voice and collective memory.

Among the major new commissions is Folding the Tents (2026) by Saudi artist Mohammed Alhamdan, known as 7amdan. The work takes the form of a procession moving through Wadi Hanifah and the JAX District, culminating in a live performance by the Miniawy Trio.

Aya Al-Bakree, Chief Executive Officer of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, said the exhibition reflects the foundation’s commitment to supporting artists, fostering cultural dialogue and strengthening creative communities. She noted that the 2026 event marks the foundation’s fifth biennale since its establishment.

Co-artistic directors Razian and Ahmed said the Biennale invites audiences to engage with art shaped by movement, exchange and transition, reflecting a contemporary world defined by overlapping routes, rhythms and relationships.