Riyadh’s Diriyah Biennale Foundation Reveals Curatorial Team and Opening Date for 2026 Edition
RIYADH — The much-anticipated third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale is set to kick off on Jan. 30, 2026, as the Diriyah Biennale Foundation unveils an expanded curatorial team.
Heading the team are Artistic Directors Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. Razian, the Deputy Director at Art Jameel, and Ahmed, a curator and educator at the Ishara Art Foundation, are poised to elevate the Biennale to new heights.
Joining them are international curators Maan Abu Taleb, May Makki, Kabelo Malatsie, and Lantian Xie, along with Milan-based architect Sammy Zarka as the Associate Architect and Exhibition Designer.
The upcoming edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale will once again grace the JAX District of Diriyah, a burgeoning creative and cultural hotspot in the vicinity of Riyadh.
This year’s event will expand into newly opened venues within the district, breathing life into its industrial heritage spaces and building on the success of past editions that collectively attracted over 340,000 visitors.
Speaking on the diverse curatorial team, Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, emphasized the Biennale’s commitment to fostering cross-disciplinary exchange and dialogue.
Anticipation is high for the 2026 edition, which promises new commissions and artworks from both local and international artists, sparking conversations on the evolving role of contemporary art in a nation undergoing rapid transformation.
About the Curators
Maan Abu Taleb, co-founder of Ma3azef and a renowned novelist and essayist, explores the intersections of sound, politics, and identity through his work.
May Makki, with a background at institutions like the Museum of Modern Art in New York and MoMA PS1, brings a wealth of research and curatorial experience to the team.
Kabelo Malatsie, former director of Kunsthalle Bern, is known for curating international exhibitions like the Yokohama Triennale and the Sharjah Biennial.
Lantian Xie’s artistic practice, spanning installations, performances, and collaborative projects, has graced prestigious platforms like the Venice Biennale and Centre Pompidou.
Sammy Zarka, an architect and lecturer at Milan’s Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, specializes in ephemeral architecture and socio-spatial memory, with notable collaborations including Fondazione Prada and Italo Rota’s museum projects. — SG
