Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, May 4, 2026
The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, titled “في الحِلّ والترحال” / In Interludes and Transitions, came to a close on May 2, 2026. Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the Biennale brought together 68 artists from over 37 countries in JAX District, Diriyah’s creative district, located near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif.
Led by Co-Artistic Directors Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, In Interludes and Transitionswas conceived as a choreography in which histories, ancestors, and migrations move together through song, stories, dance, and whirlwinds. The 2026 edition featured more than 25 new commissions across 12,900 square meters of exhibition halls, courtyards, and terraces, with scenography by design studio Formafantasma. As part of the closing week, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation hosted a rich program of events, including live music performances by artists Nancy Mounir and Hussein Nassereddine, a talk series featuring participating artists, and JAX Open Studios, in addition to a range of vibrant culinary and retail experiences featuring chef stations, a DJ, and independent vendors.
The closing of In Interludes and Transitions marks the conclusion of the fifth biennale organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation since its founding in 2020. It also signals the beginning of a pivotal new chapter for JAX District. This edition was the first to extend the Biennale’s footprint into newly opened spaces across JAX District, which reflects the Foundation’s broader ambitions for the Kingdom’s “Home of Creativity.” An expanded masterplan, supported by the international architecture studio OMA, will see the District grow to 215 tenants across nearly 78,000 square meters, welcoming more studios, galleries, and creative institutions in the years ahead. Together, the Biennale and the District continue to deepen their role as an artist-centered ecosystem and a cornerstone of the cultural landscape of the Kingdom.
A highlight of the Biennale was the opening event: a procession by Saudi artist Mohammed Alhamdan (7amdan) titled Folding the Tents (2026). This performance saw a caravan of Chasse vehicles and musicians travel through Wadi Hanifah—the historical river valley that runs through JAX District and has been an important part of life in Riyadh throughout the city’s history. The procession concluded with a series of live poetry and music performances.
Other artworks in the show include the opening piece Very volcanic over this green featherby Petrit Halilaj, an immersive installation of the artist’s enlarged childhood drawings printed on felt; House of Eternity by Théo Mercier, a new commission comprising a monumental sand installation in which geological forms carry the double imprint of nature and culture; and newly commissioned Arenas that were shaped by research and site visits by Yussef Agbo-Ola [Olaniyi Studio], Nancy Mounir, and George Mahashe, among others.
Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation: “As we close In Interludes and Transitions, we celebrate an edition that truly came alive through the people who experienced it. The title speaks to the layered histories of movement, migration, and return that have shaped this region for centuries. This biennale welcomed artists, communities, and ideas from across the world to the vibrant JAX District in Diriyah. We were moved by the depth of connection audiences brought to the works, and how our Public Programs extended the conversation far beyond the gallery walls. This is our fifth biennale, and each edition reminds us why this work matters. I'm deeply grateful to all who contributed to making it possible.”
Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, Co-Artistic Directors of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026: “As In Interludes and Transitions draws to a close, its message of continuity and solidarities remains prescient. We had the privilege of bringing forth a constellation of voices through newly commissioned works, existing projects, and programs and performances that included the ‘Taqwa’ and ‘Al-Mutadarak’ series, foregrounding rooted knowledges and their contemporary expressions. We hope this Biennale will be carried by its thousands of visitors and by the wonderful hosts and guides, and that it will continue to resonate across Diriyah and the city of Riyadh.”
This edition also marked the unveiling of a new, dedicated Public Programs building at JAX District, designed by Paris-based architecture studio Golem. A permanent addition to the District, the building will continue to serve local communities and visitors long after the Biennale's close. An illustrated guidebook produced to accompany this edition of the Biennale was published in collaboration with Mousse.
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation extends its thanks to the curatorial team and all participating artists, institutions, lenders, partners, and supporters who contributed to the success of In Interludes and Transitions, including commercial partners Lexus (Lead Partner), Saudia Airlines (Principal Partner), AMAALA (Supporting Partner), Radisson Hotel Group (Supporting Partner), and Deutsche Bank (Special Projects Partner). Their support enabled orphans and children with special needs to experience the Biennale.
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation now looks ahead to the third edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale, to run from November 1, 2027, through March 1, 2028, at the Aga Khan Award–winning Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. |
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CURATORIAL TEAM
The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 is led by Co-Artistic Directors Nora Razian, Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions and Programmes at Art Jameel in Jeddah and Dubai; and Sabih Ahmed, a curator, cultural theorist, and educator serving as Projects Advisor at the Ishara Art Foundation in Dubai. They are joined by a team of international curators: Maan Abu Taleb, May Makki, Kabelo Malatsie, and Lantian Xie. The Milan-based architect Sammy Zarka has been appointed as Associate Architect and Exhibition Designer to collaborate closely with the curatorial team.
FULL ARTIST LIST
Pacita Abad, Pio Abad, Rand Abdul Jabbar, Abdullah Miniawy Trio, Etel Adnan, Yussef Agbo-Ola [Olaniyi Studio], Leen Ajlan, Ahaad Alamoudi, Elyas Alavi, Afra Al Dhaheri, Shadia Alem, Mohammad Al-Ghamdi, Mohammed Alhamdan (7amdan), Nouf Al-Harthi, Ramy Alqthami, Abdullah Al Saadi, Ruba Al-Sweel, Lulua Alyahya, Ismaïl Bahri, Taysir Batniji, Dineo Seshee Bopape (Raisibe), Raven Chacon, Ayman Yousry Daydban, Nolan Oswald Dennis, Rohini Devasher, Merve Ertufan, Ivana Franke, Rahima Gambo, Eric Gyamfi, Samia Halaby, Petrit Halilaj, Hazem Harb, Aziz Hazara, Ho Rui An, Alana Hunt, Kamala Ibrahim Ishag, Amaka Jaji, Kayfa ta, Yazan Khalili, Moshekwa Langa, Daniel Lind-Ramos, George Mahashe, Guadalupe Maravilla, Naminapu Maymuru-White, Théo Mercier, Nour Mobarak, Mochu, Nancy Mounir, Hussein Nassereddine, Daniel Otero Torres, Thảo Nguyên Phan, Gala Porras-Kim, Sarker Protick, Abdelkarim Qassem, Raqs Media Collective, K. P. Reji, Faisal Samra, Oscar Santillán, Amina Saoudi Aït Khay, Bogosi Sekhukhuni, Karan Shrestha, Elias Sime, Trương Công Tùng, Rajesh Chaitya Vangad, Wolff Architects, Agustina Woodgate, Müge Yılmaz, and Yu Ji.
CURATORIAL STATEMENT
In Interludes and Transitions
Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026
Titled “في الحِلّ والترحال” / In Interludes and Transitions, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 considers the world as a multitude of processions. The Biennale’s title draws from a colloquial phrase invoking the cycles of encampments and journeys among nomadic communities in the Arabian Peninsula—evoking connection and continuity within a state of constant flux. The Biennale proposes to rethink the world in intense motion, through processions that entangle humans with planetary, multi-species, spiritual, and technological currents.
Located in the historic site of Diriyah, the third edition takes as its point of departure the movements, migrations, and transformations that continue to connect the Arab region with the world—bringing together practices committed to vibrant imaginations of world-making, forged through the social and ecological upheavals that mark the first two decades of this century. Co-Artistic Directors Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed claim, “Processions have produced relations and forms in this region. The movement of winds and the flow of trade, migration, and exile are carriers of stories, songs, and languages, producing rhythms and poetic meters such as the rajaz (رَجَز). Thinking of the world in procession—a braiding of movements that commemorate and celebrate—allows an understanding of cultural forms through exchange and transmissions; itineraries of travel, intersections, and mutations; and retelling of fragments of exiled stories that have persisted through bodies, materials, rhythms, and cadences.” Harnessing synergies between visual art, music, and poetry—a hallmark of cultural expression in the Arab world and across diverse cultures—the third edition of the Biennale will create arenas that bring together works by artists, musicians, filmmakers, architects, and writers to amplify the resilience of people in times of uncertainty. The Biennale will highlight how art serves as a vital tool for preserving collective memories, asserting the power of the multitude, and fostering hope amidst adversity.
ABOUT THE DIRIYAH BIENNALE FOUNDATION
Inspired by the changes taking place in Saudi Arabia and the heritage site of Diriyah, and chaired by H.H. Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation (DBF) assumes a critical role in nurturing creative expression and instilling an appreciation for culture and the arts and their transformative potential. The Foundation aspires to be a catalyst for lifelong learning and serves Saudi Arabia’s communities by offering opportunities to engage with the burgeoning local art scene. Central to the Foundation’s mandate is to stage two recurring world-class Biennales of contemporary and Islamic arts, year-round interactive educational programs, and overseeing the activation of JAX, a creative district with industrial heritage in Diriyah. At this historic moment of evolution and growth in Saudi Arabia, DBF’s Biennales showcase some of the world’s leading artists, drive cultural exchange between the Kingdom and international communities, promote dialog and understanding, and further establish Saudi Arabia as an important cultural center.
Diryha
PARTNERS
Lead Partner: Lexus
Principal Partner: Saudia Airlines
Supporting Partners: AMAALA, Radisson Hotel Group
Contributors: Abyat, Barn’s, Digital Arts Lab, Jotun, Kabli Holding
Associate: Nova Water
Special Projects Partner: Deutsche Bank #Diriyahcontemporaryartbiennale#fineartmagazineblog.blogspot.com#sunstormfineartmagazine.com#artfunforever#artfunforall#summerartfun |
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