#Saudi Arabia #AlUla #Desert X

Desert X AlUla 2026: A Groundbreaking Landmark Art Exhibition

On January 15, 2026, the highly anticipated Desert X AlUla 2026 opened to the public, marking the fourth edition of this prestigious international biennial outdoor art exhibition. Situated in the historical setting of AlUla, Saudi Arabia, this event uniquely showcases a variety of monumental art pieces that engage with the region's breathtaking landscape and rich cultural heritage.

In collaboration with Desert X, Arts AlUla invites art enthusiasts to experience an exceptional array of works by both local and international artists, each contributing their distinctive perspectives through earthworks, sculptures, and installations. This year’s exhibition features eleven distinguished artists whose creations vary in style and themes, reflecting a wide range of ideas, materials, and traditions.

From striking kinetic sculptures to sound-based explorations both above and beneath the earth, every artwork is intricately linked to AlUla's unique natural environment, reinforcing the exhibition’s reputation as a significant global platform for site-specific land art. Running until February 28, 2026, Desert X AlUla serves as a cornerstone of the annual AlUla Arts Festival, providing a creative hub for artistic expression in a stunning cultural landscape.

The exhibition is curated by prominent figures including Wejdan Reda, Zoé Whitley, and the artistic director, Neville Wakefield, alongside Raneem Farsi. The 2026 theme, “Space Without Measure,” is inspired by the writings of Khalil Gibran, encouraging visitors to contemplate the imagination within the natural surroundings of AlUla.

The Desert X AlUla exhibition unfolds across AlUla's stunning desert gorges, facilitating a dialogue between art and nature while providing critical insight into AlUla's ambition to develop a permanent “Valley of Arts.” Hamad Alhomiedan, the Director of Arts and Creative Economy at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), emphasized that at Desert X AlUla 2026, audiences will encounter artworks that deeply engage with the region’s incredible landscapes and rich heritage.

"These compelling projects underscore AlUla's dynamic transformation into a significant worldwide travel destination, where ancient and contemporary forms of expression converge," Alhomiedan remarked. This exhibition is an integral part of the broader revitalization efforts of AlUla as a culturally abundant travel spot, aimed at celebrating its past and fostering the future of arts and culture in the area, while positioning AlUla in the global dialogue about contemporary art.

Participating Artists and Works

The exhibition boasts a diverse lineup of artists, including:

• - Sara Abdu with her work A Kingdom Where No One Dies: Contours of Resonance
• - Mohammad Alfaraj with What Was the Question Again?
• - Mohammed AlSaleem with multiple pieces: The Thorn, AlShuruf Unit, The Triangles, Flower Bud, and Al Ahilla
• - Tarek Atoui’s The Water Song
• - Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons with Imole Red
• - Agnes Denes presents The Living Pyramid
• - Ibrahim El-Salahi’s Haraza Tree
• - Basmah Felemban with Rustling of Pebbles
• - Vibha Galhotra’s Future Fables
• - Héctor Zamora with Tar HyPar

About AlUla and Arts AlUla

AlUla is located 1,100 kilometers northwest of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and boasts a unique cultural heritage intertwined with remarkable natural beauty. The vast area spans 22,561 square kilometers, featuring lush oasis valleys, towering sandstone mountains, and ancient archaeological sites dating back to the reign of the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms. The most renowned site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage site and a previously significant city of the Nabataean kingdom. Furthermore, AlUla encompasses ancient Dadan, a pioneering city of the region’s early civilizations, and Jabal Ikmah, an open-air library of thousands of inscriptions in various languages.

The founding of Arts AlUla under the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) represents a commitment to shaping the next chapter of artistic creation in the region, celebrating its cultural heritage and fostering a future inspired by artists. The initiative strives to merge the old with the new and the local with the international, placing art at the heart of AlUla's identity as a site enriched with natural and cultural heritage. Looking forward, the envisioned Wadi AlFann or