The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 theme has been revealed
Here’s everything to look forward to
If you’ve been looking forward to the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026, here’s all you need to know when it returns next year, from Friday January 30, 2026 until Thursday April 23, 2026.
Taking place in the JAX District in Diriyah, a creative quarter with industrial heritage in the historic town of Diriyah, near Riyadh. The 15-hectare site hosts artists’ studios and exhibition venues.
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For its third edition, the Biennale will actually extend into the JAX District, activating newly opened spaces and weaving Biennale events throughout.
Title and theme
The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 theme is In Interludes and Transitions. The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale is bringing together works by an international group of artists at JAX.
The title of the Biennale draws from a colloquial phrase invoking the cycles of encampments and journeys in nomadic communities in the Arabian Peninsula, taking as a point of departure the movements, migrations, and transformations that continue to connect the Gulf region with the world.
Artists
The preliminary list of participating artists includes Pio Abad, Rand Abdul Jabbar, Yussef Agbo-Ola (Olaniyi Studio), Ahaad Alamoudi, Afra Al Dhaheri, Mohammed Alhamdan (7amdan), 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, Raqs Media Collective, Oscar Santillán, Trương Công Tùng, Wolff Architects, Agustina Woodgate, and Yu Ji.
Location: JAX District
Dates: Fri Jan 30 to Thu Apr 23
Visit: biennale.org.sa
