A Celebration of Art, Culture and Heritage

Offering visitors a vibrant journey through contemporary art, public installations and immersive cultural experiences, the AlUla Arts Festival 2025 is one for the books. Set against the dramatic landscapes of the ancient city of AlUla, this year’s festival showcases a dynamic programme of exhibitions, performances, artist residencies and workshops, uniting global talent with Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage.

Alamaat by Daniah Alsaleh and Susanne Kriemann, curated by Salma Al Khalidi. Image courtesy Royal Commission for AlUla

At the heart of the festival lies the Gathering Square in the AlJadidah Arts District, a bustling hub for creativity and community engagement. From hands-on workshops to thought-provoking talks, the space captures the essence of AlUla’s vision as a global cultural destination. One of the festival’s most anticipated highlights was the world premiere of ‘Thikra: Night of Remembering’, a site-specific performance commissioned by Wadi AlFann. Created by renowned choreographer Akram Khan and Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan, the performance explored themes of memory, collective healing and the interplay of past and future. Featuring an international ensemble of 14 dancers, original music by Aditya Prakash and bespoke designs by AlDowayan, ‘Thikra’ entered into a stunning artistic dialogue with the natural landscapes of Wadi AlFann.

This year’s festival also features a series of exhibitions and installations that blend tradition with contemporary innovation, including light and space artist James Turrell, whose exhibition highlights include renders, plans and a constellation map for the artist’s upcoming site-specific commission in Wadi AlFann. Also on view is a ‘Cross Corner’ ‘Projection’ and a ‘Glasswork’ from the Royal Commission for AlUla’s contemporary art collection. Agnes Denes, Michael Heizer and Ahmed Mater have also created new, large-scale, site-specific commissions for Wadi AlFann.

Cinema AlJadidah is an open-air cinema showcasing art-house films and introducing audiences to diverse cinematic cultures. If you’re in Al Ula, do not miss Neuma: The Forgotten Ceremony, which is a collaboration between Saudi artist Sarah Brahim and French artist Ugo Schiavi that embodies the identity of Villa Hegra – the Saudi-French institution set to open in central AlUla. The project features an indoor exhibition at Dar Tantora and an outdoor installation at Wadi Al Naam, including a minimalist glass temple for reflection. The exhibition also showcases blown glass sculptures inspired by local stones, and a film of their research process.

NEUMA: The Forgotten Ceremony by Sarah Brahim and Ugo Schiavi. Image courtesy Royal Commission for AlUla

Beyond exhibitions, the festival comes alive with performances at the AlUla Music Hub, showcasing regional and global talent in genres spanning jazz, fusion and Arabic music. Visitors can also immerse themselves in hands-on arts and crafts at Madrasat Addeera, ensuring a rich and engaging experience for all ages. The AlUla Arts Festival 2025 continues to affirm AlUla’s role as a cultural hub where history, innovation and artistic dialogue converge.