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Riyadh Art Announces Fifth Edition of Noor Riyadh

File: The fourth edition, themed Light Years Apart, features over 60 light-based artworks created by 61 artists from 18 countries, transforming Riyadh into a “gallery without walls.” - SPA
File: The fourth edition, themed Light Years Apart, features over 60 light-based artworks created by 61 artists from 18 countries, transforming Riyadh into a “gallery without walls.” - SPA
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Riyadh Art Announces Fifth Edition of Noor Riyadh

File: The fourth edition, themed Light Years Apart, features over 60 light-based artworks created by 61 artists from 18 countries, transforming Riyadh into a “gallery without walls.” - SPA
File: The fourth edition, themed Light Years Apart, features over 60 light-based artworks created by 61 artists from 18 countries, transforming Riyadh into a “gallery without walls.” - SPA

Under the umbrella of Riyadh Art, the world’s largest public art initiative, Noor Riyadh returns for its fifth edition from November 20 to December 6, 2025.

The world’s largest light art festival will once again transform the Saudi capital with groundbreaking installations by leading local and international artists.

The 2025 curatorial theme, “In the Blink of an Eye,” is inspired by Riyadh’s rapid transformation. The theme reflects the city’s evolving identity, juxtaposing its historic core with its visionary infrastructure, including the newly launched metro system, SPA reported.

Minister of Culture, member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, and Chairman of the Riyadh Art Program’s Steering Committee Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan said, "This year’s theme captures the momentum of change that defines Riyadh today. Through Noor Riyadh, we continue to deepen the role of public art in shaping cultural exchange, enriching daily life, and positioning Riyadh as a creative capital on the world stage."

Noor Riyadh is part of Riyadh Art, one of Riyadh’s Four Mega Projects launched on March 19, 2019, with the goal of transforming the capital into an open art gallery that blends tradition and modernity, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to promote culture and the arts and improve quality of life.

Riyadh Art has contributed to launching one of the most significant cultural initiatives in the region, consolidating Riyadh's position as a global center for contemporary art and culture by supporting cultural innovation, stimulating the creative economy, and integrating art into public spaces to create a more vibrant and beautiful urban experience.

Since its inception, Riyadh Art has showcased over 550 artworks by more than 500 Saudi and international artists, attracting more than 9.6 million visitors and spectators through its major programs, including Noor Riyadh.

This year’s edition further expands the festival's curatorial ambition, aiming to create meaningful moments for residents and visitors alike. This year's edition will feature more than 60 large-scale light installations across Riyadh’s urban and cultural landscape, building on the success of previous editions and reaffirming its position as a leading platform for contemporary public art.

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Culture

Once a National Obsession, Traditional Korean Wrestling Fights for Survival 

An elderly spectator watches a ssireum match during a Lunar New Year Ssireum championship at the Taean Complex Indoor Gymnasium in Taean, South Korea, February 14, 2026. (Reuters)
An elderly spectator watches a ssireum match during a Lunar New Year Ssireum championship at the Taean Complex Indoor Gymnasium in Taean, South Korea, February 14, 2026. (Reuters)
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Once a National Obsession, Traditional Korean Wrestling Fights for Survival 

An elderly spectator watches a ssireum match during a Lunar New Year Ssireum championship at the Taean Complex Indoor Gymnasium in Taean, South Korea, February 14, 2026. (Reuters)
An elderly spectator watches a ssireum match during a Lunar New Year Ssireum championship at the Taean Complex Indoor Gymnasium in Taean, South Korea, February 14, 2026. (Reuters)

As South Korea's global cultural influence expands in areas such as music, film and television, one form of entertainment struggling to attract attention even at home is Korea's traditional style of wrestling, known as ssireum.

Ssireum - pronounced like "see room" - had its heyday in the 1980s and early 1990s, when there were as many as eight professional teams and the top wrestlers became household names. Since then, it has been squeezed by tighter budgets and a public quick to move on to new trends.

Twenty-year-old Lee Eun-soo, who began training at the age ‌of nine, is ‌taking part in this year's Lunar New Year ‌tournament, ⁠the showcase event ⁠for the more than 1,500-year-old sport.

Lee lamented that at his former high school, the ssireum team currently has no members and there is talk of disbanding it.

"I once tried to imagine my life if I hadn’t done ssireum," Lee said. "I don’t think I could live without it."

A ssireum match involves two wrestlers facing off in an ⁠eight-meter (26.25 ft) sandpit ring, gripping each other by a ‌cloth belt called a "satba" and using ‌strength, balance, timing and stamina to force the opponent to the ground.

Ssireum ‌was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage ‌of Humanity in 2018, but that international recognition has not translated into commercial success. Its relative obscurity contrasts with the high profile of Japan's sumo, another centuries-old form of wrestling.

Unlike sumo, which is supported by ‌a centralized professional ranking system and six major annual tournaments - or Olympic wrestling, with its global reach - ⁠ssireum remains ⁠largely domestic.

"Sport is something people won't come to watch if they don’t know the wrestlers or even the sport itself," said Lee Tae-hyun, a former ssireum wrestler and Professor of Martial Arts at Yong In University, who has promoted the sport overseas and believes it has commercial potential with the right backing.

Lee Hye-soo, 25, a spectator at the Lunar New Year tournament, said many Koreans are now unfamiliar with ssireum.

"My grandfather liked watching ssireum, so I watched it with him a lot when I was young," she said.

"I like it now too, but I think it would be even better if it became more famous."

Culture

Saudi Arabia Concludes Guest of Honor Role at Damascus International Book Fair 2026

The Kingdom’s pavilion, led by the commission, attracted strong attendance and active engagement through its cultural activities - SPA
The Kingdom’s pavilion, led by the commission, attracted strong attendance and active engagement through its cultural activities - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Concludes Guest of Honor Role at Damascus International Book Fair 2026

The Kingdom’s pavilion, led by the commission, attracted strong attendance and active engagement through its cultural activities - SPA
The Kingdom’s pavilion, led by the commission, attracted strong attendance and active engagement through its cultural activities - SPA

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission concluded the Kingdom’s Guest of Honor participation at the Damascus International Book Fair 2026, held in the Syrian capital from February 6 to 16, drawing strong attendance and engagement from visitors and cultural enthusiasts.

The Kingdom's pavilion was highly praised for its rich cultural content and high-quality programs, reflecting the vitality and growth of the Kingdom’s literary and cultural scene, SPA reported.

Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission CEO Dr. Abdullatif Abdulaziz Al-Wasel stated that the Kingdom’s role as Guest of Honor at the Damascus International Book Fair 2026, represented by a high-level cultural delegation led by Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, highlights the depth of Saudi-Syrian cultural relations based on partnership and mutual respect.

He noted that the participation demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing cultural exchange, a key objective of the National Culture Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030. Through this strategy, the commission emphasizes fostering constructive dialogue among peoples, exchanging knowledge and expertise, and consolidating the Kingdom’s active role in the Arab and international cultural landscape.

The Kingdom’s pavilion, led by the commission, attracted strong attendance and active engagement through its cultural activities. It showcased the commission’s programs and initiatives in literature, publishing, and translation, and featured a comprehensive cultural program, including literary seminars, cultural discussions, and poetry evenings with prominent Saudi writers and intellectuals.

These efforts enriched cultural dialogue with fair visitors and strengthened the presence of Saudi literature in the Arab cultural scene.

This edition of the Damascus International Book Fair marks a significant cultural milestone, reaffirming the value of books as carriers of meaning, spaces for dialogue, and starting points for a cultural journey that reflects the aspirations of the Arab cultural landscape toward a more open and aware phase.

Culture

Qiddiya City Begins Construction of Landmark Performing Arts Center

The Qiddiya Performing Arts Center supports the city’s positioning as a destination for creativity and cultural expression - SPA
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Qiddiya City Begins Construction of Landmark Performing Arts Center

The Qiddiya Performing Arts Center supports the city’s positioning as a destination for creativity and cultural expression - SPA

Qiddiya Investment Company has announced the commencement of construction works for the Performing Arts Center in Qiddiya City, marking an important milestone in the development of Qiddiya City as a destination for entertainment, sports and culture.

The announcement coincided with the laying of the foundation stone, signaling the start of construction works to be carried out by Nesma and Partners.

During the ceremony, held at the project site perched on the edge of the Tuwaiq Mountains, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company Abdullah Aldawood delivered a speech announcing the official start of construction. He highlighted the importance of the project as a transformative addition that strengthens Qiddiya City’s cultural offering.

The Qiddiya Performing Arts Center supports the city’s positioning as a destination for creativity and cultural expression, while contributing to the development of local talent and attracting international artistic experiences.

The Qiddiya Performing Arts Center has been designed by Tom Wiscombe Architecture, in collaboration with BSBG, and features a futuristic architectural style defined by monumental forms. The design comprises interlocking architectural panels and five illuminated blades that blend harmoniously with the desert landscape, forming a prominent cultural landmark within Qiddiya City.

The start of construction follows the launch of the first phase of Qiddiya City in December 2025, which included the opening of Six Flags Qiddiya City. It’s part of the company’s broader approach to developing integrated destinations that enhance quality of life and deliver distinctive experiences across entertainment, sports and culture.