Bold art commissions in dramatic landscapes

Returning with extraordinary site-specific installations inspired by AlUla’s awe-inspiring landscape and heritage, Desert X AlUla 2026 invites visitors to explore artworks in the landscape by local and international artists – alongside workshops and live programming.

Works on Nature, Identity, and Place

Arduna is a contemporary art exhibition co-curated by the contemporary art museum of AlUla and Centre Pompidou that takes place in multiple locations. Presented across six thematic chapters and featuring works from both collections, it reflects AlUla’s legacy as a cultural crossroads and a site of artistic exchange. 

Where Craft Meets Community

Step inside a living showcase of AlUla’s artistic heritage. At Madrasat Addeera, traditional crafts like pottery, weaving and jewellery-making are brought to life by local artisans. With exhibitions, workshops and community showcases, this is where ancient skills meet a bold new generation of craftspeople.

A Stage for Talent

From hands-on workshops in Oud, Qanun and Guitar to open-mic nights and recitals, AlUla Music Hub is alive with creativity. Located in the AlJadidah Arts District, the hub brings together local and global sounds through special performances for AlUla Arts Festival - sparking musical exchange and expression. 

A Showcase of Innovation

Design Space AlUla, in the heart of AlJadidah Arts District, is a vibrant platform for innovation and dialogue - inviting designers, and creatives to engage with exhibitions, residencies, and talks that explore how AlUla’s landscapes, heritage, and materials inspire design rooted in place and possibility.

A Platform for Contemporary Arab Art

Located in the heart of AlUla’s AlJadidah Arts District, Athr Gallery brings its pioneering spirit to the AlUla Arts Festival with a new exhibition featuring Saudi artist Sara Abdu - reflecting its commitment to championing Arab voices and offering fresh perspectives on contemporary creativity in the region.

Art, Nature and Community in Harmony

Daimumah is a living cultural landscape in AlUla’s lush oasis where art, heritage, and nature come together. Its programme includes guided walks, interactive workshops, youth-led tours, and open-air performances - from planting sessions to storytelling in the shade, all rooted in the rhythms of the land.

Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Design

As part of AlUla Arts Festival, Villa Hegra presents milestones in contemporary design - from Badr Ali’s capsule with USM Haller and Paul Emilieu Marchesseau’s bespoke furniture with Saudi artisans, to Mobilier National commissions and new works by Théo Mercier ahead of his 2026 Diriyah Biennale show.

A Celebration of Dance and Movement

With the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels, Villa Hegra hosts a bold celebration of performance and dance curated by Rachid Ouramdane and Chaillot - featuring a highline crossing by Nathan Paulin, choreography from Les Traceurs, live sets with Saudi musicians, and a screening from Paris 2024.

Visual Echoes of the Desert

Supported by ICCD Rome, this exhibition explores AlUla’s desert as a living archive shaped by nature and memory - featuring early 20th-century photographs by Tony André and cinematic works by Saad Tahaitah that reveal how the landscape has been seen, recorded, and reimagined across different generations.

Villa Hegra Cinema offers a bold programme of films, with current highlights including Hijra - an introspective journey of migration; Fakhr Alsuwaidi - a poetic portrait of identity, and Valley Road - exploring the ties between land and memory. Download the full schedule of curated films here.

Responses to Land and Legacy

In collaboration with the British Council, this dual exhibition explores AlUla’s landscape and traditions through two installations - Cries in the Desert, a poetic film series shaped by terrain and memory, and What Is Luxury, a reflection on value and heritage through deconstructed garments by Studio Ü.