AlUla Arts Festival to make its grand return in January 2026
The fifth edition of AlUla Arts Festival features a brilliant programme of live music, immersive performances and educational experiences
Art lovers and culture seekers, the AlUla Arts Festival is returning bigger and more vibrant than ever for its fifth edition in January 2026.
Set against a dramatic backdrop of majestic desert canyons, lush palm groves and the vibrant AlJadidah Arts District, the 2026 edition features a dynamic spectrum of experiences, ranging from live music and immersive performances to educational programmes and design showcases.
Taking place from Friday January 16 to Saturday February 14, visitors can look forward to bold new land art commissions as part of the fourth edition of Desert X AlUla, a major art exhibition, a collaboration between the contemporary art museum in AlUla and the Centre Pompidou, a Design Space AlUla exhibition spotlighting Saudi and international talents, and more.
From exciting activities to must-see spots, here’s everything you won’t want to miss at the AlUla Arts Festival 2026.
January 16 to February 28: Desert X AlUla 2026
Invisible Possibilities_ When the Earth Began to Look at Itself_ Nojoud Alsudairi + Sara Alissa, Desert X AlUla 2024. Courtesy The Royal Commission of AlUla and Lance Gerber
Returning for its fourth edition, Desert X AlUla 2026 will present 10 new site-specific artworks by leading multigenerational artists, curated into the landscape of AlUla. Inspired by the poetry of Kahlil Gibran, this year’s theme, Space Without Measure, presents each artwork as a point on a new map, marking moments of imagination, from flowering utopias to previously inconceivable vistas and sound corridors. Desert X AlUla 2026 will showcase visionary contemporary artworks by Saudi and international artists, under the guidance of Artistic Directors Neville Wakefield and Raneem Farsi, alongside two guest curators who will reflect the region’s long history of cross-cultural exchange.
February 1 to April 15: Arduna
The Holy Wadi, Ayman Zedani, Arduna, 2025
Meaning “our land” in Arabic, Arduna is an innovative exhibition presented as part of the pre-opening programme of the upcoming contemporary art museum in AlUla. The engaging showcase offers visitors a view of the museum’s vision through more than 80 diverse artworks from Saudi Arabia, the region, and beyond, exploring our changing relationship with nature and land. Co-curated with the renowned Centre Pompidou and the French Agency for AlUla development (AFALULA), Arduna features contemporary art from the Royal Commission for AlUla collection, alongside works from the Musée National d’Art Moderne, including pieces by Kandinsky and Picasso. The future contemporary art museum in Alula will become a centre for regional and international 21st-century art, grounded in AlUla’s unique cultural oasis and heritage.
Design Space AlUla
This is where the AlUla Design Exhibition (January 16 to February 28) will be hosted, highlighting AlUla’s growing role as a centre for creativity and cultural innovation. The exhibition will introduce visitors to the work produced by the AlUla Artists Residency Programme and the AlUla Design Award 2025, in which leading international and regional designers immersed themselves in AlUla’s landscapes, heritage, and craft traditions to develop original works. Meanwhile, AlUla Design Stores (January 22 to February 28) will also showcase retail products developed during the fourth AlUla Design Award, Designathon, and AlUla Design Residency, alongside collaborations with three designers from Madrasat Addeera.
AlJadidah Arts District
This is a vibrant hub for creativity in the heart of AlUla, uniting designers, visitors, and communities through exceptional arts, education, and cultural experiences. During the festival, public spaces will transform into outdoor galleries, with newly commissioned public art displayed along the Incense Road and around Gathering Square, infusing creativity into every corner of AlUla’s historic streets and oasis. AlUla Music Hub (November 1 to January 31) will host a series of concerts across the district featuring Arabic, fusion, vocal, and jazz performances, while ATHR Gallery (January to February) will showcase works by Saudi contemporary artist Sara Abdu. Visitors to the art and design centre Madrasat Addeera (January 16 to April 30) will have the opportunity to engage with local artisans and see how they are revitalising traditional arts and crafts through contemporary design programmes and practices. The open-air Cinema AlJadidah will screen a carefully curated selection of art-themed documentaries, shorts, and feature films.
January 16 to February 14: Villa Hegra
The first Saudi-French cultural foundation will host the photography exhibition Not Deserted: AlUla’s Archives in Movement, featuring early 20th-century photographs by Tony André, alongside a cinematic exhibition of desert landscapes by Saudi filmmaker and Villa Hegra resident Saad Tahaitah. On January 16, “Vertigo”, a contemporary performance, will be presented in partnership with Chaillot – National Dance Theatre, with the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels. The immersive show will take place at Wadi AlFann, featuring French highliner Nathan Paulin and performers from the AlUla community. Visitors will also be invited to experience a programme of curated initiatives at Villa Hegra, including workshops with musician Christophe Chassol, dancer Saido Lehlou, and choreographer Rachid Ouramdane, in dialogue with Saudi talents such as dancer Akram.
January 16 to February 14: British Council KSA art takeover
The British Council in KSA will showcase Reflections, two installations that received grants for cultural initiatives in AlUla. The Council will feature works by Studio Ü London, which seeks to produce a sustainable capsule collection inspired by AlUla’s cultural and natural heritage through collaboration with Saudi artists and craftsmen. The other grant recipient is Musson and Retallick – Cries in the Desert, a project that transforms archived oral histories and music into immersive visual and sound installations that honour AlUla’s past and future.
Daimumah
Located a short distance from AlUla Old Town, Daimumah is a scenic farm that combines nature, art, and heritage into a slow, sensory experience. During the festival, Daimumah encourages visitors to reflect, connect, and participate in the ongoing care and celebration of AlUla’s environment through various public art workshops, planting activities, craft classes, and cultural performances. The living cultural landscape also offers a range of food and beverage options to suit all tastes.
Images: Supplied
