Desert X AlUla exhibition to transform region into a hub for contemporary art and culture
Desert X
AlUla is set to make its fourth edition from January 16 to February 29,
2026, as part of the AlUla
Arts Festival, transforming the region into a dynamic hub for contemporary
art, design, and culture. The exhibition will be curated by Wejdan Reda and Zoé
Whitley, with Neville Wakefield and Raneem Farsi returning as artistic
directors.
The event will showcase site-specific
artworks by both Saudi and international artists across generations, engaging
directly with AlUla’s unique desert landscapes. The 2026 edition adopts the
theme “Space Without Measure,” inspired by Kahlil Gibran’s poetic reflections
on possibility, perception, and the limitless nature of the human spirit.
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Since its launch in 2020, Desert X
AlUla has built a strong legacy of site-responsive art, producing over 45
projects across its editions. The exhibition has become a pivotal platform for
both local and global artists, enriching AlUla’s cultural heritage and
contributing to the region’s growing artistic profile.
Participating artists for the 2026
edition will be announced in the coming weeks. The event also supports the development
of Wadi AlFann, AlUla’s upcoming 65-square-kilometre open-air museum dedicated
to monumental, permanent land art, scheduled to open in 2028. Wadi AlFann is
envisioned as a global destination for cultural engagement and site-specific
artistic expression.
Through Arts AlUla, the Royal
Commission for AlUla (RCU) aims to revive the region’s artistic legacy while
providing opportunities for local communities in education, skill-building,
employment, and cultural exchange.
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Visitors to Desert X AlUla 2026 will
experience each artwork within its distinctive setting, journeying through
AlUla’s dramatic and diverse landscapes. Recognised as the region’s first
public art biennale, the event continues to offer artists a unique platform to
create immersive works in dialogue with the environment.
The “Space Without Measure” theme
resonates with AlUla’s boundless horizons—a landscape layered with history,
memory, and imagination—cementing Desert X AlUla’s role as a cornerstone of the
region’s artistic
Source: One Arabia
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