AlUla will host the fifth AlUla Arts Festival from 16 January to 14 February 2026, bringing contemporary art, design, and culture to its historic landscapes.

The events will take place across key districts, including AlJadidah and AlUla Old Town, featuring exhibitions, performances by Saudi and international artists, and a full programme of talks and workshops. Desert X AlUla 2026 will present 10 new site-specific installations inspired by Kahlil Gibran’s poetry under the theme Space Without Measure. Additionally, curated by Neville Wakefield and Raneem Farsi with guest curators, the edition will map imagined utopias and sound corridors across the desert. Arduna, meaning “our land,” will preview the vision for AlUla’s future contemporary art museum. Co-curated with the Centre Pompidou and the French Agency for AlUla Development, it will showcase over 80 works exploring relationships between people, nature, and land. Moreover, highlights include pieces from the Royal Commission for AlUla collection and the Musée National d’Art Moderne, featuring artists such as Kandinsky and Picasso. In the AlJadidah Arts District, visitors will find new public artworks along Incense Road and Gathering Square, concerts at the AlUla Music Hub, and an ATHR Gallery exhibition by Saudi artist Sara Abdu. Likewise, Madrasat Addeera will host artisan-led activities, while Cinema AlJadidah screens art-focused documentaries. Design Space AlUla will present the AlUla Design Exhibition, featuring works from the Artists Residency Programme, the AlUla Design Award 2025, and collaborations with Madrasat Addeera designers, highlighting innovation rooted in AlUla’s heritage. At Villa Hegra, the photography exhibition Not Deserted will display archival works by Tony André and desert imagery by Saad Tahaitah. On 16 January, Wadi AlFann will stage Vertigo, a performance featuring highliner Nathan Paulin and local artists. Furthermore, Daimumah farm will offer workshops, planting sessions, crafts, performances, and diverse dining, creating an immersive cultural experience amid palm groves and desert canyons. Read more: BroadcastPro Summit KSA, 2026