The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has announced the artist list for the third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, opening January 30 in the JAX District of Diriyah, near Riyadh. Titled “In Interludes and Transitions,” the biennale is curated by Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed and features over 65 artists, including more than 20 new commissions. Participants range from historic figures like Pacita Abad and Etel Adnan to emerging voices such as Raven Chacon and Dineo Seshee Bopape, working across painting, installation, film, sound, architecture, and publishing.
This announcement comes amid a surge of cultural and market activity across the Middle East, with Art Basel staging its first Middle East fair in Doha in 2026, Frieze launching Frieze Abu Dhabi later that year, and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi finally set to open. Auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s are also expanding in Saudi Arabia. The biennale underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a global art destination, reflecting broader regional investment in contemporary art infrastructure and international art market engagement.