Art & Culture

Desert X AlUla Returns in 2026 With a New Theme and Works

BYYassine Hariss

November 26, 2025

Desert X AlUla will cut the proverbial ribbon to its fourth edition on Jan. 16, 2026. Running for over a month— until Feb. 28— the contemporary art exhibition will return to the desert with new commissions and a new cohort of artists invited to showcase some of their works.

This year’s edition will unfold under the theme “Space Without Measure,” inspired by the poetry of Khalil Gibran. Spearheaded by creative directors Neville Wakefield and Raneem Farsi— alongside two guest curators which have yet to be announced— it’s been reported that 10 new site-specific installations, amongst other activations, will be scattered across AlUla, each riffing on the theme’s invitation to think beyond physical boundaries.

Created by a diverse group of artists coming from Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and abroad, the works are expected to tap into the landscape’s vastness and push the exhibition further into the conceptual territory it’s become known for.

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Desert X AlUla will run as part of the AlUla Arts Festival’s fifth edition— scheduled for Jan. 16 to Feb. 14– and serve as its central showcase.

“AlUla Arts Festival is the contemporary expression of ancient traditions of creativity and cultural exchange in AlUla. In this year’s diverse programme, AlUla becomes a canvas for creative dialogue and a catalyst for conversations in the Kingdom and beyond,” Hamad Alhomiedan, Director of Arts & Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), said.

“We are proud to showcase ambitious works by some of Saudi Arabia’s most celebrated artists alongside internationally renowned pioneers, all inspired by the unique culture and landscapes of AlUla. I look forward to welcoming visitors from the local community and across the world to experience this one-of-a-kind event and explore the wonders of AlUla,” he added.

Other key highlights include Arduna; another major exhibition opening on Jan. 15 and running through April 15, bringing together more than 80 works by Saudi, regional, and international artists. The show will be presented hand in hand with the Centre Pompidou and the French Agency for AlUla Development as part of the lead-up to the upcoming Contemporary Art Museum in AlUla.

Desert X AlUla Returns in 2026 With a New Theme and Works

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Desert X AlUla Returns in 2026 With a New Theme and Works

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