The Diriyah Biennale is a contemporary art exhibition that has been held in Saudi Arabia for the first time. The biennial, which is organized by the Ministry of Culture, aims to promote cultural infrastructure and develop creative talent across the kingdom.
The exhibition features a diverse range of artists from around the world, with a focus on showcasing their work in a unique and innovative way. The event has been attended by dignitaries and art enthusiasts alike, with many praising its commitment to prioritizing cultural infrastructure over the market imperative.
One of the highlights of the biennial was the procession that opened the exhibition, which drew large crowds and created a sense of gathering and collective witness. The event also featured a range of interactive installations and performances, including a dance performance that brought together artists from around the world.
The Diriyah Biennale has been seen as a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia's cultural landscape, marking a shift towards prioritizing artistic expression and creativity over traditional values. The event has also been praised for its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion, with many of the featured artists being women and artists from underrepresented communities.
In an interview with the Observer, Ahmed, the curator of the biennial, discussed the significance of Saudi Arabia launching a biennale rather than an art fair. "The very first and bold large-scale event for contemporary art in Saudi Arabia is a Biennale," he said. "They could have started somewhere else. They could have started with art fairs or auction houses." Ahmed emphasized the importance of the biennial in strengthening academic capacity, enabling cultural exchange, and developing creative talent across the kingdom.
The Diriyah Biennale has also been praised for its commitment to promoting public engagement and participation. The event features a range of interactive installations and performances that invite visitors to engage with art in new and innovative ways. This approach has been seen as a significant departure from traditional biennales, which often prioritize the sale of artworks over audience engagement.
Overall, the Diriyah Biennale has been seen as a groundbreaking event in Saudi Arabia's cultural landscape, marking a shift towards prioritizing artistic expression and creativity over traditional values. The event's commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion, public engagement, and creative talent across the kingdom has been widely praised, and it is likely to have a lasting impact on the region's art scene.
The Diriyah Biennale will run until May 2, 2026, at JAX District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The exhibition features a diverse range of artists from around the world, with a focus on showcasing their work in a unique and innovative way. The event has been attended by dignitaries and art enthusiasts alike, with many praising its commitment to prioritizing cultural infrastructure over the market imperative.
One of the highlights of the biennial was the procession that opened the exhibition, which drew large crowds and created a sense of gathering and collective witness. The event also featured a range of interactive installations and performances, including a dance performance that brought together artists from around the world.
The Diriyah Biennale has been seen as a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia's cultural landscape, marking a shift towards prioritizing artistic expression and creativity over traditional values. The event has also been praised for its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion, with many of the featured artists being women and artists from underrepresented communities.
In an interview with the Observer, Ahmed, the curator of the biennial, discussed the significance of Saudi Arabia launching a biennale rather than an art fair. "The very first and bold large-scale event for contemporary art in Saudi Arabia is a Biennale," he said. "They could have started somewhere else. They could have started with art fairs or auction houses." Ahmed emphasized the importance of the biennial in strengthening academic capacity, enabling cultural exchange, and developing creative talent across the kingdom.
The Diriyah Biennale has also been praised for its commitment to promoting public engagement and participation. The event features a range of interactive installations and performances that invite visitors to engage with art in new and innovative ways. This approach has been seen as a significant departure from traditional biennales, which often prioritize the sale of artworks over audience engagement.
Overall, the Diriyah Biennale has been seen as a groundbreaking event in Saudi Arabia's cultural landscape, marking a shift towards prioritizing artistic expression and creativity over traditional values. The event's commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion, public engagement, and creative talent across the kingdom has been widely praised, and it is likely to have a lasting impact on the region's art scene.
The Diriyah Biennale will run until May 2, 2026, at JAX District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
. I mean, shouldn't they be focusing on the commercial aspect of art sales? It's like, if you want to attract tourists and make some real money off this cultural thing, wouldn't it make more sense to just host a big ol' art auction house? 
But nope, they went with a biennale instead. I guess that says something about how much value they place on art as a form of self-expression rather than just a commodity 
. Plus, the fact that they're trying to promote diversity and inclusion is super cool! It's like, they're finally stepping out of their comfort zone and saying "you know what? We need more women and underrepresented communities in our cultural scene." 
So yeah, I'm all for it 
. Bring on the art! 
. But hey, if people want to come and experience it for themselves, that's their choice. Just don't expect me to be convinced 
.
. But you know what really gets me is how this Diriyah Biennale is doing things differently. They're not just showing off artworks for sale, they're actually creating experiences for the public 
. That's what art should be all about - bringing people together and inspiring them to think differently. It's like, what's the point of having an event if nobody gets to engage with it? 
The Saudi Arabia government is really taking a risk by investing in this kind of thing, but I think it could pay off big time. We'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out 
.
! they're really prioritizing artistic expression and creativity over traditional values which is awesome 
. it's like they're saying okay we've been doing things one way for a long time but now let's try something new and innovative 
. the fact that they featured so many women and artists from underrepresented communities is also super cool 
. I love how they included interactive installations and performances that invite visitors to engage with art in new ways - it sounds like a really fun and immersive experience 
. And those interactive installations sound like a great way to engage people in art, might just make it more accessible to a wider audience 
. And I gotta say, interactive installations and performances are def the way to go - who doesn't love gettin' involved in an art show? 
can't say i'm surprised though - we all know those oil reserves have been fueling more than just fancy cars and malls. seriously though, it's cool to see them prioritizing cultural infrastructure and promoting diversity and inclusion. maybe this means we'll get to see some more exciting art and culture coming out of the kingdom in the future 
! I mean, who would've thought that Saudi Arabia would host a contemporary art exhibition on par with the big boys? The fact that they're prioritizing cultural infrastructure and creative talent over market imperatives is music to my ears 
. And let's be real, those interactive installations and performances are straight fire 
! I love how it's bringing together artists from around the world and showcasing their work in a unique way. It's like a breath of fresh air for the art scene in the region 
. And can we talk about Ahmed, the curator, he's a genius 
. Bring on May 2, 2026, and let's celebrate some amazing art and culture! 
. It's like, Saudi Arabia's been playing it safe for so long, and now they're finally taking a chance on art as a way to build their culture. I love how they included women and underrepresented artists in the lineup – it shows they're committed to diversity 
! It's like, traditional biennales are so serious all the time, but this one was actually fun 
. And that procession at the opening? Iconic 
. I'm curious to see how it affects the local art scene – maybe we'll start seeing more Saudi artists getting international recognition 
. Anyway, I'm gonna keep an eye on this biennial and see how it continues to grow – Saudi Arabia's definitely stepping up its cultural game