Desert X AlUla 2026 Opens in AlUla
Desert X AlUla 2026 officially opened today, marking the launch of the fourth edition of this landmark international outdoor biennial. Presented by Arts AlUla in collaboration with Desert X, the exhibition invites visitors to encounter site-responsive land art, sculptures, and installations by a multigenerational roster of artists from Saudi Arabia and around the world. These commissioned works engage in a powerful dialogue with AlUla’s awe-inspiring natural landscapes and its layered cultural heritage.
Located in northwestern Saudi Arabia, AlUla is renowned for its ancient history and breathtaking natural beauty. With the return of Desert X AlUla—the centerpiece of the region’s first public art biennial and a core highlight of the annual AlUla Arts Festival—the destination is solidifying its position as a dynamic new hub for land art on the global stage.
The 2026 edition brings together 11 acclaimed artists whose diverse practices reflect a wide spectrum of ideas, materials, and traditions. From monumental kinetic sculptures to immersive soundscapes that traverse both surface and subterranean terrain, each commission is deeply rooted in AlUla’s unique environment, further cementing Desert X AlUla’s reputation as a leading platform for site-specific land art.
Running through February 28, 2026, Desert X AlUla serves as the anchor program of the annual AlUla Arts Festival. Titled Space Without Measure, the fourth edition is co-curated by Wejdan Reda and Zoé Whitley, with Neville Wakefield and Raneem Farsi serving as artistic directors. Inspired by the writings of Kahlil Gibran, the theme invites audiences to contemplate the power of imagination within AlUla’s vast desert vistas. The exhibition is sited in AlUla’s dramatic canyon landscape as a prelude to Wadi AlFann (“Valley of the Arts”), offering an early glimpse into AlUla’s vision for a permanent land art destination.
“At Desert X AlUla 2026, audiences will encounter artworks that respond profoundly to AlUla’s distinctive topography and rich cultural legacy,” said Hamad Alhomiedan, Director of Arts and Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU). “These compelling commissions vividly reflect AlUla’s dynamic transformation into a globally significant destination where ancient and contemporary expressions converge with vitality. This exhibition is a vital part of our broader mission to revitalize AlUla as a culturally rich, livable, and inspiring place—and a pivotal step in establishing its voice in global contemporary art discourse, while laying the groundwork for ambitious future projects like Wadi AlFann.”
Participating Artists and Works:
- Sara Abdu, A Kingdom Where No One Dies: Contours of Resonance
- Mohammad Alfaraj, What was the Question Again?
- Mohammed AlSaleem, The Thorn, AlShuruf Unit, The Triangles, Flower Bud, and Al Ahilla (courtesy of the Royal Commission)
- Tarek Atoui, The Water Song
- Bahraini-Danish, Bloom
- Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Imole Red
- Agnes Denes, The Living Pyramid
- Ibrahim El-Salahi, Haraza Tree
- Basmah Felemban, Murmur of Pebbles
- Vibha Galhotra, Future Fables
- Héctor Zamora, Tar HyPar
About AlUla and Arts AlUla
AlUla is located 1,100 kilometers northwest of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia—a region of extraordinary natural and cultural richness spanning 22,561 square kilometers. It features lush oasis valleys, towering sandstone mountains, and archaeological sites dating back to the golden ages of the Lihyanite and Nabataean kingdoms.
Its most iconic site is Hegra (Al-Hijr), the southern capital of the Nabataean civilization and Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. AlUla is also home to the ancient city of Dadan, once the capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms and considered one of the most advanced urban centers of the Arabian Peninsula in the 1st millennium BCE. Nearby, Jabal Ikmah serves as an open-air library inscribed with hundreds of multilingual ancient inscriptions. The historic AlUla Old Town—comprising over 900 mud-brick dwellings with roots stretching back to at least the 12th century—has been revitalized as a vibrant gathering place for residents and visitors alike.
Arts AlUla, a key initiative of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), embodies a commitment to continuing the region’s millennia-old artistic legacy. By centering artists and fostering dialogue between heritage and innovation, local and global perspectives, Arts AlUla ensures that art remains at the heart of AlUla’s identity—celebrating its exceptional natural and cultural heritage while shaping a future inspired by creativity.
Source: Royal Commission for AlUla
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