Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale
Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale takes place Next edition expected 2028 (biennial; the 3rd edition ran Jan 30 - May 2, 2026) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The dress code is Casual smart; comfortable shoes for walking the warehouse-district galleries. Free to attend; budget up to 200 EUR per person for hospitality and extras.
Saudi Arabia's flagship contemporary art biennale, staged in the converted warehouses of Diriyah's JAX District beside the At-Turaif UNESCO site. Its 2026 edition gathered dozens of international and Saudi artists with a heavy program of new commissions, free to all - the most ambitious recurring contemporary-art event in the Kingdom.
- When
- Next edition expected 2028 (biennial; the 3rd edition ran Jan 30 - May 2, 2026)
- Where
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Dress code
- Casual smart; comfortable shoes for walking the warehouse-district galleries
- Cost
- Free to attend; budget up to 200 EUR per person for hospitality and extras.
- Weather
- 20 - 30C mild Riyadh winter into spring, largely dry
- When to book
- Free entry when running - check biennale.org.sa for opening hours and timed registration
- Getting there
- RUH (Riyadh), ~30 min to the JAX District, Diriyah
- Where to stay
- Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Diriyah, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh
- Official site
- https://biennale.org.sa
How to attend
Entry is free when the biennale is running, with registration and hours via biennale.org.sa; JAX is a short taxi ride from central Riyadh. The third edition closed in May 2026, and on the biennial cycle (alternating with Jeddah's Islamic Arts Biennale) the next edition is expected around 2028.
The third edition closed in May 2026 and the next is not expected until about 2028, so there is nothing to book; entry is free when it runs.
Insider tip
Combine the JAX warehouses with the At-Turaif UNESCO site and Bujairi Terrace next door in Diriyah - together they make a full day, best ended at sunset over the wadi.
Get inside Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale
Booking matters here: free entry when running - check biennale.org.sa for opening hours and timed registration. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.