In January 2026, the ancient oasis of AlUla will once again take centre stage on the global cultural map as it welcomes the fifth milestone edition of the AlUla Arts Festival. Over the course of a month, this extraordinary desert landscape will transform into a living platform for contemporary art, design, music and performance, seamlessly woven into its dramatic natural and historical surroundings.

Running from 16 January to 14 February 2026, the festival promises its most ambitious and wide-ranging programme to date. Monumental canyons, palm-filled valleys and the creative heart of the AlJadidah Arts District will host a constellation of exhibitions, installations and live experiences that reflect AlUla’s growing role as a global cultural destination.

A major highlight of the AlUla Arts Festival 2026 is the return of Desert X AlUla, taking place from 16 January to 28 February 2026. Now in its fourth edition, the internationally recognised open-air exhibition brings newly commissioned, site-responsive artworks into direct conversation with AlUla’s dramatic desert landscapes and layered cultural heritage.

Curated by Wejdan Reda and Zoé Whitley, with Neville Wakefield and Raneem Farsi returning as Artistic Directors, the 2026 edition unfolds under the theme Space Without Measure, inspired by the poetic vision of Kahlil Gibran. The theme reflects ideas of boundless imagination, perception and the limitless nature of the human spirit, echoing the vast horizons and deep histories of AlUla.

Featuring works by multigenerational Saudi and international artists, the exhibition unfolds across valleys, canyons and historic routes, with each installation conceived as a temporary landmark within the landscape. Rather than imposing form, the artworks invite moments of reflection, guiding visitors through immersive encounters with AlUla’s land, light and memory.

Since its launch in 2020, Desert X AlUla has realised over 45 site-specific commissions, establishing itself as a key platform for contemporary art in the landscape and laying the groundwork for Wadi AlFann, AlUla’s forthcoming global destination for permanent land art, set to begin unveiling from 2028.

Another cornerstone of the programme is Arduna (“Our Land”), a landmark exhibition presented as part of the pre-opening programme of AlUla’s forthcoming contemporary art museum. Developed in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou, the exhibition brings together more than 80 works from Saudi Arabia, the wider region and the international art world. Spanning generations and disciplines, the show explores humanity’s evolving relationship with land, nature and memory, featuring works from the Royal Commission for AlUla collection alongside masterpieces from the Musée National d’Art Moderne.

Design will also take centre stage in 2026. Design Space AlUla will host the festival’s most extensive design programme yet, showcasing projects developed through the AlUla Artists Residency, the AlUla Design Award and international design initiatives. These works reflect deep engagement with AlUla’s landscape, heritage and craft traditions, while pop-up design stores will present limited-edition pieces created specifically for the festival.

Throughout the festival, AlJadidah Arts District will become an open-air gallery and performance hub at the heart of AlUla. Newly commissioned public artworks will appear across the district, including along the Incense Road and around Gathering Square, activating streets and shared spaces. A varied programme of concerts, film screenings and talks will bring together local communities and international audiences. AlUla Music Hub will host live performances across the district, featuring Arabic, jazz, vocal and fusion music, while Cinema AlJadidah will present a curated selection of art-related documentaries, short films and feature-length screenings. Visitors can also engage directly with artisans at Madrasat Addeera, where traditional crafts and heritage practices are being reinterpreted through contemporary design, education and hands-on creative programmes.

Cultural exchange will extend further at Villa Hegra, the first Saudi–French cultural foundation, which from 16 January to 14 February will host a focused programme of exhibitions, performances and creative workshops. The photography exhibition Not Deserted: AlUla’s Archives in Movement will present early 20th-century photographs by Tony André, alongside a parallel exhibition of cinematic desert imagery by Saudi filmmaker Saad Tahaitah, a Villa Hegra resident. On 16 January, the contemporary performance Vertigo will be presented in partnership with Chaillot — National Dance Theatre, with the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring French highliner Nathan Paulin and performers from the AlUla community at Wadi AlFann. The programme will be complemented by a series of curated workshops and public initiatives at Villa Hegra, bringing together international practitioners such as Christophe Chassol, Saido Lehlou and Rachid Ouramdane in dialogue with Saudi artists, including dancer Akram.

Beyond the urban setting, the festival will unfold in the surrounding landscape. At Daimumah, a working farm near AlUla Old Town, art and nature will merge through participatory workshops, planting sessions and cultural gatherings, offering visitors a slower, sensory way to connect with the environment and local traditions.

Together, these experiences position AlUla Arts Festival 2026 as a journey through art, heritage and imagination, set within one of the world’s most remarkable landscapes. By bringing together ancient history and contemporary creativity, the festival continues to shape AlUla as a year-round global hub for artistic dialogue and innovation.