desert X 2026 opens with artworks that harmonize with alUla's valleys and canyons

"Desert X AlUla 2026 returns to northwest Saudi Arabia with a fourth edition that scatters contemporary art across within the valleys, canyons, and oases of AlUla. Presented by Arts AlUla in collaboration with Desert X, the exhibition runs from January 16th to February 28th, 2026 as part of the AlUla Arts Festival. It brings new site-responsive sculptural commissions into conversation with the scenic desert."

"The curatorial theme, Space Without Measure, shapes an edition that attends closely to scale, distance, and perception across a vast landscape. Works are positioned across Wadi AlFann and the surrounding oasis zones, where shifts in light and wind are a part of the experience. Desert X AlUla 2026 approaches the site as an active participant, asking visitors to move slowly and read materials in relation to desert and sky."

"Sustainable production methods inform Desert X AlUla 2026 at every level. Rammed earth, carved stone, and locally sourced wood appear across multiple projects, produced in Saudi Arabia through collaborations with regional artisans and cultural centers. Partnerships with the locally-based arts and design center Madrasat Addeera and the AlUla Music Hub extend this emphasis on local knowledge, while consultation with the AlUla Native Plant Nursery guides the integration of plantlife into the 'oasis' environment."

Desert X AlUla 2026 takes place in northwest Saudi Arabia from January 16 to February 28, 2026, presenting site-responsive sculptures across valleys, canyons, and oases. The curatorial theme Space Without Measure emphasizes scale, distance, and perception, placing works across Wadi AlFann and surrounding oasis zones where light and wind shape visitor experience. Sustainable materials such as rammed earth, carved stone, and locally sourced wood are used, produced in Saudi Arabia with regional artisans and cultural centers. Partnerships with Madrasat Addeera, the AlUla Music Hub, and the AlUla Native Plant Nursery support local knowledge and the integration of plantlife. The project is co-curated by Wejdan Reda and Zoé Whitley, with artistic direction by Neville Wakefield and Raneem Farsi, and includes artists such as Agnes Denes.

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