Saudi Arabia Will Present National Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2026
The participation will present works that highlight cultural heritage and practices rooted in tradition.
Saudi Arabia will take part in the 61st Venice Biennale, running from May 9th to November 22nd 2026, with a national pavilion organized by the Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts Commission.
Artist Dana Awartani has been selected to represent the Kingdom, presenting a body of work that draws on themes of cultural preservation and the revival of traditional craft through a contemporary lens. This marks Saudi Arabia’s fifth participation at the Biennale and the fourth led by a Saudi female artist.
The pavilion aims to reflect the evolving identity of Saudi art within international discourse, continuing the Kingdom’s efforts to build cultural dialogue and expand its creative footprint. Held across Venice’s historic Giardini and Arsenale venues, the 2026 Biennale will once again bring together artists and pavilions from around the world to explore the intersections of heritage and modernity.
