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AlUla Arts Festival to be Held in January with Diverse Artistic Programs

AlUla Arts Festival will hold its fifth edition from January 16 to February 14, 2026. SPA
AlUla Arts Festival will hold its fifth edition from January 16 to February 14, 2026. SPA
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AlUla Arts Festival to be Held in January with Diverse Artistic Programs

AlUla Arts Festival will hold its fifth edition from January 16 to February 14, 2026. SPA
AlUla Arts Festival will hold its fifth edition from January 16 to February 14, 2026. SPA

AlUla Arts Festival will launch its fifth edition on January 16, 2026, transforming Saudi Arabia's historic AlUla Oasis into a vibrant platform for contemporary art, design, and culture.

The edition, which lasts until February 14, is described as the festival’s broadest and most diverse to date, featuring art exhibitions, performances, and immersive experiences that enrich the region’s cultural and artistic landscape.

This year’s edition marks the return of Desert X AlUla in its fourth edition, alongside a global exhibition presented for the first time as part of the pre-opening program for the anticipated contemporary art museum in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou.

The festival offers its most extensive design program to date through Design Space AlUla, hosting the AlUla Design Exhibition and events featuring Saudi and international designers. A public cultural program will run in parallel, including live performances, immersive shows, and interactive educational activities.

Desert X AlUla 2026 returns from January 16 to February 28 with a new selection of artwork inspired by the theme “Space Without Measure,” drawn from the writings of Gibran Khalil Gibran. The installations act as luminous points, mapping an expansive realm of imagination that explores the interplay between art and nature.

“Arduna” Exhibition, which will be held from January 15 to April 15, features a curated selection of more than 80 artworks by artists from the Kingdom, the region, and around the world.

The exhibition highlights the relationship between humanity and nature and forms part of the preparatory program for the forthcoming Contemporary Art Museum in AlUla, presented in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou and the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA).

During the festival, AlJadidah Arts District transforms into a dynamic creative hub, showcasing new artwork along Incense Road. The program also includes performances by the AlUla Music Hub and an exhibition by Saudi artist Sara Abdu at the Athr Gallery.

Meanwhile, Madrasat Addeera offers visitors direct interaction with artisans and demonstrations of how traditional crafts are being revitalized with a contemporary approach.

Moreover, Cinema AlJadidah will screen a selection of documentary and short films focused on art, while Design Space AlUla highlights the governorate’s growing role as a global creative hub through the AlUla Design Exhibition, along with works produced under its residency programs and the AlUla Design Award.

Villa Hegra will host a photography exhibition, featuring rare images from the early 20th century, alongside a contemporary visual show capturing desert scenes through the lens of Saudi filmmaker Saad Tahaitah.

AlUla will present “Vertige” in partnership with the Chaillot theater in France, with performers from AlUla's community.

In addition, art initiatives held in collaboration with the British Council will include “Reflections,” a fashion exhibition inspired by AlUla’s heritage.

At the nearby “Daimumah” site, visitors can enjoy an experience that blends art with nature through public-art workshops, planting sessions, and traditional-arts classes, offering a space that highlights the bond between people and place and the cultural identity of AlUla.

The AlUla Arts Festival 2026 offers an integrated artistic and cultural experience in one of the world’s notable natural and heritage destinations, further cementing AlUla’s position as an international platform for arts and creativity.

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Culture

Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission Launches Pavilion at London Book Fair

The commission's participation aims to promote Saudi literary and intellectual output while showcasing the rapid development of the literature, publishing, and translation sectors in the Kingdom. (SPA)
The commission's participation aims to promote Saudi literary and intellectual output while showcasing the rapid development of the literature, publishing, and translation sectors in the Kingdom. (SPA)
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Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission Launches Pavilion at London Book Fair

The commission's participation aims to promote Saudi literary and intellectual output while showcasing the rapid development of the literature, publishing, and translation sectors in the Kingdom. (SPA)
The commission's participation aims to promote Saudi literary and intellectual output while showcasing the rapid development of the literature, publishing, and translation sectors in the Kingdom. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission officially launched the Kingdom’s pavilion at the London Book Fair 2026, held at Olympia London from March 10 to 12. The participation underscores the Kingdom’s growing presence in the global publishing industry and reflects its expanding cultural engagement on the international stage.

Commission Chief Executive Dr. Abdullatif Alwasel said the commission's participation aims to promote Saudi literary and intellectual output while showcasing the rapid development of the literature, publishing, and translation sectors in the Kingdom.

The initiative seeks to highlight the vibrancy and diversity of Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape, presenting it as a dynamic environment that reflects the richness of the Kingdom’s cultural identity, he stressed.

The commission is working to strengthen the presence of Saudi publishers at major international events while promoting its programs and initiatives in literature, publishing and translation, he added.

Its participation also aims to establish professional and knowledge-based partnerships with leading stakeholders in the global publishing industry, thereby expanding opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange, he went on to say.

Alwasel added that the London Book Fair is one of the world’s most important platforms for networking among publishing professionals, facilitating the exchange of expertise in areas such as translation rights, publishing innovation, and content creation.

Such engagement helps boost the global visibility of Saudi cultural production and opens new markets for Saudi literary content. The Kingdom’s pavilion brings together several national institutions representing the cultural and knowledge sectors, reflecting the integrated nature of Saudi Arabia’s cultural development efforts.

Participating entities include the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance; the King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex; the King Abdulaziz Foundation; the King Fahd National Library; the King Abdulaziz Public Library; the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language; Prince Mohammed bin Fahd University; and Nasher Publishing and Distribution Company.

The Kingdom’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to strengthening its presence at major international book fairs, supporting the publishing industry, and expanding cultural and intellectual cooperation with countries around the world. These efforts align with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to promote culture as a bridge for civilizational dialogue and human exchange.

Culture

Italy Buys Caravaggio Painting for About $35 Million, One of Its Largest Payouts for a Single Work

A visitor looks at the private collection and never previously shown to the public painting "Portrait de Maffeo Barberini" by Italian master Caravaggio at the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica in the Barberini palace in Rome on November 22, 2024. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP)
A visitor looks at the private collection and never previously shown to the public painting "Portrait de Maffeo Barberini" by Italian master Caravaggio at the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica in the Barberini palace in Rome on November 22, 2024. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP)
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Italy Buys Caravaggio Painting for About $35 Million, One of Its Largest Payouts for a Single Work

A visitor looks at the private collection and never previously shown to the public painting "Portrait de Maffeo Barberini" by Italian master Caravaggio at the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica in the Barberini palace in Rome on November 22, 2024. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP)
A visitor looks at the private collection and never previously shown to the public painting "Portrait de Maffeo Barberini" by Italian master Caravaggio at the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica in the Barberini palace in Rome on November 22, 2024. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP)

Italy has bought a rare portrait by baroque painter Caravaggio for 30 million euros (about $35 million), one of the largest state investments ever for a single artwork, the country’s Culture Ministry said Tuesday.

The portrait, painted around 1598 and attributed to Caravaggio in 1963, depicts Maffeo Barberini, a nobleman who later became Pope Urban VIII.

The painting was acquired from a private collection by the Italian state after over a year of negotiations and will now enter Rome’s Palazzo Barberini permanent collection.

“This is a work of exceptional importance,” Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said in a statement, noting the painting was a turning point in Caravaggio’s modern rediscovery and its purchase has helped strengthen the presence of his works in Italian public collections.

The new acquisition follows a recent one of Antonello da Messina’s “Ecce Homo,” and is part of Italy’s broader project to strengthen the national cultural heritage, making some art history masterpieces accessible to scholars and the public.

The “Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini” depicts the future pope in his 30s, dressed as a cleric of the Apostolic Chamber, at a crucial moment in his rise to power.

The work was made famous by art critic Roberto Longhi in his 1963 article “The True ‘Maffeo Barberini’ of Caravaggio,” and has since been widely recognized by critics as a work by Caravaggio, also known as Michelangelo Merisi.

Longhi called the painting “one of the founding moments of modern portraiture,” emphasizing how Caravaggio ushered in a new psychological intensity.

Caravaggio revolutionized painting at the turn of the 17th century by introducing a dramatic use of light that became the cornerstone of the Baroque style. He is currently one of the most studied artists in the world, yet the number of his confirmed works remains extremely limited.

At Palazzo Barberini, the portrait will be displayed alongside Caravaggio’s other works — one of the world’s most important collections — in particular along another of Caravaggio’s masterpieces, “Judith Slaying Holofernes,” also purchased by the Italian state in 1971.

Culture

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project Restores 1,400-Year-Old Jarir Al-Bajali Mosque in Taif

The mosque is historically linked to the companion Jarir ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali, who embraced Islam in 10 AH - SPA
The mosque is historically linked to the companion Jarir ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali, who embraced Islam in 10 AH - SPA
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Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project Restores 1,400-Year-Old Jarir Al-Bajali Mosque in Taif

The mosque is historically linked to the companion Jarir ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali, who embraced Islam in 10 AH - SPA
The mosque is historically linked to the companion Jarir ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali, who embraced Islam in 10 AH - SPA

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques has completed the restoration of Jarir Al-Bajali Mosque in Taif, preserving a heritage site that dates back more than 1,400 years.

The mosque is historically linked to the companion Jarir ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali, who embraced Islam in 10 AH. The restoration preserved the mosque’s Sarawat architectural style, known for its irregular stone construction and juniper wood roofing. Its capacity has also been expanded to accommodate 135 worshippers, SPA reported.

Covering 350 square meters, the mosque features a unique combination of square stone and modern cylindrical minarets. The project was implemented under the supervision of Saudi engineers and heritage specialists, integrating modern sustainability standards with traditional building techniques.

The initiative aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to preserve the Kingdom’s architectural identity and highlight its deep Islamic heritage for future generations.