The Diriyah Biennale Foundation, led by Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, has appointed two artistic directors for the third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale: Nora Razian, Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions and Programmes at Art Jameel in Dubai and Jeddah; and Sabih Ahmed, a curator, cultural theorist, and educator serving as Projects Advisor at the Ishara Art Foundation in Dubai.
Both Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed have organized large-scale exhibitions that connect to our contemporary moment, including articulating the vast impact of the climate crisis and examining contested histories through practices of contemporary artists. Razian has developed ambitious programs at several institutions and has a deep understanding of the art ecosystem in the region. In his research-based curatorial practice, Ahmed has fostered vital connections across Asia through archives, artist collaborations, and pedagogy.
Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to announce Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed as the artistic directors of the third Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale. Their combined expertise in developing ambitious exhibitions and building cross-cultural dialogue between Eastern and Western Asia, along with their deep understanding of regional and international art scenes, will be instrumental in furthering our mission to position Saudi Arabia as a global center for contemporary art.”
Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, Artistic Directors of the 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, said: “We are honoured to be working on the third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and to contribute to the legacy of what is fast becoming a global platform for contemporary art. For the third edition of the Biennale, we envision inviting practices committed to vibrant imaginations of world-making born through conditions of vulnerability and resilience. Reflecting on the first quarter of the 21st century, our curatorial ambition is to explore how locally rooted histories and knowledges have transmitted and transformed through time. The Biennale will serve as a platform for a multitude of artistic interventions, archives, and participatory models that offer dynamic ways to imagine and enact a world otherwise.”
The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale (DCAB), Saudi Arabia’s most important platform for contemporary art, will take place from January to April 2026 at the JAX District, a creative quarter with industrial heritage in the historic town of Diriyah, near Riyadh, which is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif. Revitalised in 2020, the former factory site now serves as a contemporary ‘beating heart’ within Diriyah's rich historical landscape. The JAX District today functions as a dynamic cultural hub, with its vast warehouses giving space to artist studios, creative companies, galleries, museums, and cultural institutions—allowing creative initiatives, art production, and major cultural events to flourish.
Featuring work by artists from Saudi Arabia and around the world, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale explores the role of contemporary art in a country that is undergoing rapid social change. Building upon the success of two previous editions (Feeling the Stones, curated by Philip Tinari in 2022, and After Rain, curated by Ute Meta Bauer in 2024), which together welcomed over 340,000 visitors, this edition will continue to foster dialogue between local and international artists, curators, and art enthusiasts.
About the Diriyah Biennale Foundation
Inspired by the changes taking place in Saudi Arabia and the heritage site of Diriyah, and Chaired by H.H. Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation (DBF) assumes a critical role in nurturing creative expression and instilling an appreciation for culture and the arts and their transformative potential. The Foundation aspires to be a catalyst for lifelong learning and serves Saudi Arabia’s communities by offering opportunities to engage with the burgeoning local art scene. Central to the Foundation’s mandate is to stage two recurring world-class Biennales of contemporary and Islamic arts, year-round interactive educational programs, and overseeing the activation of JAX, a creative district with industrial heritage in Diriyah. At this historical moment of evolution and growth in Saudi Arabia, DBF’s Biennales showcase some of the world’s leading artists, drive cultural exchange between the Kingdom and international communities, promote dialogue and understanding, and further establish Saudi Arabia as an important cultural center.
Press contact
For press inquiries, please contact mediaqueries@biennale.org.sa
