Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026, Diriyah
30 January - 02 May 2026
Titled In Interludes and Transitions / في الحِلّ والترحال, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 considers the world as a multitude of processions. The Biennale’s title draws from a colloquial phrase invoking the cycles of encampments and journeys among nomadic communities in the Arabian Peninsula—evoking connection and continuity within a state of constant flux. The Biennale proposes to rethink the world in intense motion, through processions that entangle humans with planetary, multi-species, spiritual, and technological currents.
The title of the Biennale draws from a colloquial phrase invoking the cycles of encampments and journeys in nomadic communities in the Arabian Peninsula, taking as a point of departure the movements, migrations, and transformations that continue to connect the Gulf region with the world.
With scenography by design studio Formafantasma, the Biennale is conceived as a choreography in which histories, ancestors, dreams, and premonitions move together through song, stories, dance, and whirlwinds. The Biennale presents works by artists, musicians, filmmakers, architects, and writers to amplify continuity and resilience in times of uncertainty. Over 20 new works have been commissioned for the Biennale.