Everything You Need to Know About Third Edition of AlUla Arts Festival

AlUla, the ancient city with a rich historical and cultural heritage, is set to host the highly anticipated AlUla Arts Festival for the third consecutive year, taking place between February 8 and February 24th. With a captivating program that showcases flagship events, immersive exhibitions, and creative initiatives, the festival promises to be a city-wide celebration of art in all its forms.

The festival seeks to ignite imaginations, foster dialogue, and position AlUla as a leading centre for contemporary art and art in the landscape, with a vision to revive ancient artistic traditions.

At the core of the festival are three flagship events. Desert X AlUla, now in its third edition, will feature contemporary artworks by Saudi and international artists, strategically placed within the extraordinary desert landscape. This site-responsive exhibition, open to all, encourages exchange between artists, curators and local communities, drawing inspiration from the desert's vast beauty.

Another highlight is Wadi AlFann, an upcoming cultural destination that will permanently house large-scale, site-specific works of contemporary land art in AlUla's breathtaking desert landscape, starting from 2026. As part of Wadi AlFann's pre-opening programme, an exhibition by Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan will be showcased, capturing stories from AlUla's communities and leading up to her new commission titled 'Oasis of Stories.'

The festival also includes the exhibition 'More Than Meets the Eye,' which features modern and contemporary artworks by Saudi artists. Supported by prominent Saudi art collectors, the exhibition aims to document the history of modern and contemporary art in Saudi Arabia, shedding light on artists and recent art movements. It serves as a prelude to the opening of a contemporary art museum in AlUla, dedicated to regional and global contemporary art with a focus on the Arab world.

In addition to these flagship events, visitors can look forward to live performances, photography exhibitions, street-art tours, cinema screenings, and hands-on workshops. The workshops, hosted at Madrasat Addeera, AlUla's creative hub, will offer a range of activities such as palm weaving, pottery, jewellery making and geometric design.