AlUla Arts Festival to return in January with diverse programs
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The AlUla Arts Festival will return for its fifth edition from January 16 to February 14, 2026, turning the AlUla Oasis into a month-long showcase of contemporary art, design and culture. Organizers describe it as the festival’s most wide-ranging program so far, with exhibitions, performances and interactive experiences across several sites.
A highlight of the season will be the fourth edition of Desert X AlUla, which runs from January 16 to February 28 under the theme “Space Without Measure”, inspired by the writings of Gibran Khalil Gibran. The installations will explore the relationship between art and nature through large-scale outdoor works.
Running alongside is “Arduna”, a major exhibition opening January 15 and continuing until April 15. It brings together over 80 works from Saudi, regional and international artists, presented with the Centre Pompidou and the French Agency for AlUla Development as part of preparations for the forthcoming Contemporary Art Museum in AlUla.
Design Space AlUla will expand its programming through the AlUla Design Exhibition, residency showcases, and the AlUla Design Award, featuring both Saudi and international designers. AlJadidah Arts District will host installations along Incense Road, performances at the AlUla Music Hub, and a solo exhibition by Saudi artist Sara Abdu at Athr Gallery.
Other highlights include a photography exhibition at Villa Hegra, screenings at Cinema AlJadidah and “Vertige”, a performance staged with France’s Chaillot theatre and local participants. The British Council will present “Reflections,” a fashion exhibition rooted in AlUla’s heritage.
At the Daimumah site, visitors can join public-art workshops, planting sessions and traditional-arts classes linking creativity with the natural environment.
The 2026 festival continues AlUla’s role as a growing center for international art and design. More details are available at experiencealula.com
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