DUBAI: AlUla Arts Festival is set to return for its fifth edition in January 2026, transforming the ancient oasis city of AlUla into a stage for contemporary art, design and culture. Set against a dramatic backdrop of majestic desert canyons and the vibrant AlJadidah Arts District, the 2026 edition will run from Jan. 16 to Feb. 14.
The festival will feature new land art commissions as part of the fourth edition of Desert X AlUla. It also includes a major art exhibition, a collaboration between the contemporary art museum in AlUla – as part of its pre-opening programme – and Centre Pompidou; and a Design Space AlUla exhibition spotlighting Saudi and international talents and more.
Hamad Alhomiedan, Director of Arts & Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), said: “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. 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.”
AlUla Arts Festival is a landmark annual event that transforms the ancient city of AlUla into a vibrant canvas for artistic expression, solidifying its position as a year-round global hub for creativity and culture. Part of AlUla Moments 2025/2026 Calendar, the festival has grown into one of the region’s most celebrated arts events, bringing together groundbreaking works by diverse local, regional and international artists situated alongside the rich natural and cultural heritage of AlUla, creating spectacular moments of inspiration and wonder.
As part of the events, Desert X AlUla will return for its fourth edition from Jan. 16 to Feb. 28, presenting 10 new site specific artworks from 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 flourishes 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 vision of Artistic Directors Neville Wakefield and Raneem Farsi, and two guest curators reflecting the region’s long history of cross-cultural exchange.
Additionally, Design Space AlUla will host the AlUla Design Exhibition, highlighting AlUla’s growing role as a hub for creativity and cultural innovation. The exhibition will introduce visitors to the work produced by the AlUla Artists Residency Programme and AlUla Design Award 2025, where leading international and regional designers immersed themselves in AlUla’s landscapes, heritage, and craft traditions to develop original works.
Meanwhile, AlUla Design Stores 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.
