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Misk Art Institute to Launch Creative Forum 2026 in September

This year's forum will explore the human imprint in contemporary cultural practices and the relationship between people and creativity as patterns of cultural and creative production and reception continue to change - SPA
This year's forum will explore the human imprint in contemporary cultural practices and the relationship between people and creativity as patterns of cultural and creative production and reception continue to change - SPA
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Misk Art Institute to Launch Creative Forum 2026 in September

This year's forum will explore the human imprint in contemporary cultural practices and the relationship between people and creativity as patterns of cultural and creative production and reception continue to change - SPA
This year's forum will explore the human imprint in contemporary cultural practices and the relationship between people and creativity as patterns of cultural and creative production and reception continue to change - SPA

Misk Art Institute, a subsidiary of Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), announced the launch of the Creative Forum 2026, to be held on September 3 and 4 at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Riyadh.

Over two days, the forum will bring together more than 48 cultural experts, curators, academics, artists, and policymakers from around the world across 16 specialized panel discussions, eight artistic and cultural mentorship sessions covering various topics, and six sessions of the "Coffee with a Cultural Expert" program to examine the rapid transformations taking place in cultural practices amid technological developments, SPA reported.

This year's forum will explore the human imprint in contemporary cultural practices and the relationship between people and creativity as patterns of cultural and creative production and reception continue to change.

It will also examine aspects of storytelling and identity, creative collaboration networks, and the impact of digital transformation and artificial intelligence on today's cultural landscape.

The forum reflects Misk Art Institute's commitment to fostering cultural dialogue at both the regional and international levels and creating spaces for discussion on issues shaping the future of the cultural sector.

It also underscores the importance of preserving the human dimension of creative practice and promoting the exchange of expertise and knowledge, contributing to a thriving creative ecosystem and reinforcing Saudi Arabia's position as a leading regional and international destination for cultural and artistic dialogue.

Since its launch in 2020, the Creative Forum has hosted more than 280 speakers from over 20 countries, attracted more than 14,000 participants, and generated more than three million digital impressions worldwide, reflecting its established position as one of the region's leading cultural events.

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Culture

Security and History Dialogue 2026 Kicks Off in Riyadh with over 160 Speakers

The Security and History Dialogue 2026 conference begins Sunday in Riyadh with more than 160 speakers from within the Kingdom and abroad. (SPA)
The Security and History Dialogue 2026 conference begins Sunday in Riyadh with more than 160 speakers from within the Kingdom and abroad. (SPA)
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Security and History Dialogue 2026 Kicks Off in Riyadh with over 160 Speakers

The Security and History Dialogue 2026 conference begins Sunday in Riyadh with more than 160 speakers from within the Kingdom and abroad. (SPA)
The Security and History Dialogue 2026 conference begins Sunday in Riyadh with more than 160 speakers from within the Kingdom and abroad. (SPA)

Under the patronage of Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Security and History Dialogue 2026 conference begins Sunday in Riyadh with more than 160 speakers from within the Kingdom and abroad, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The conference is organized by the Ministry of Interior and themed Our History and Our Future: Security and Growth.

Running through September 8, the conference, a national platform for dialogue and intellectual and historical exchange, will review Saudi Arabia's journey in the fields of security and growth.

It will explore the Kingdom's experience and transformations from various perspectives, including security, politics, economy, society, culture, national identity, awareness, international relations, and institution building.

The conference program includes more than 65 dialogue sessions and interactive meetings, with the participation of more than 30 entities. It is expected to attract more than 5,000 visitors.

The program will address a range of topics, including the history of the Kingdom and the roots of its security; the personality of Founding King Abdulaziz; citizenship, identity, and national heritage; the Kingdom's role in security and peace; the future of security capabilities and international partnerships; artificial intelligence and future security; and the role of women, family, citizens, media, and security sectors in promoting awareness and stability.

It will also review local and international experiences and perspectives related to the Kingdom's history and transformations.

Culture

Red Sea Museum Concludes Six-Month 'Sunken Treasures' Exhibition

The galleries showcased underwater archaeological discoveries and Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to protect and document submerged cultural assets - SPA
The galleries showcased underwater archaeological discoveries and Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to protect and document submerged cultural assets - SPA
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Red Sea Museum Concludes Six-Month 'Sunken Treasures' Exhibition

The galleries showcased underwater archaeological discoveries and Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to protect and document submerged cultural assets - SPA
The galleries showcased underwater archaeological discoveries and Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to protect and document submerged cultural assets - SPA

The "Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea" exhibition concluded its six-month run at the Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah, offering visitors an educational journey into centuries of maritime trade, navigation, and pilgrimage.

Housed at the historic Bab Al-Bunt building since February 25, the exhibition highlighted the Red Sea's historical role as a vital trade artery connecting the Arabian Peninsula with the Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia.

Structured across four thematic zones, the galleries showcased underwater archaeological discoveries and Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to protect and document submerged cultural assets, SPA reported.

Among the exhibition's centerpiece displays was the 18th-century Umluj shipwreck, discovered submerged 20 to 22 meters deep amid coral reefs. Its recovered cargo—including commercial containers, pottery, coins, ceramics, and daily shipboard tools alongside antique navigational instruments and nautical maps—illustrated the vibrant human exchange that traversed regional waters.

Organized in collaboration with the Heritage Commission and the Historic Jeddah Program, the exhibition was also part of the summer season's cultural offerings, combining interactive public programming with scientific research to bolster cultural tourism and raise awareness of the Kingdom's underwater heritage.

Culture

Diriyah Art Futures Opens Second Edition of 'CONTINUUM' Exhibition

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) launched its latest exhibition CONTINUUM ’26 on Thursday, showcasing the works of its second cohort of emerging artists and the program’s mentors. (SPA)
Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) launched its latest exhibition CONTINUUM ’26 on Thursday, showcasing the works of its second cohort of emerging artists and the program’s mentors. (SPA)
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Diriyah Art Futures Opens Second Edition of 'CONTINUUM' Exhibition

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) launched its latest exhibition CONTINUUM ’26 on Thursday, showcasing the works of its second cohort of emerging artists and the program’s mentors. (SPA)
Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) launched its latest exhibition CONTINUUM ’26 on Thursday, showcasing the works of its second cohort of emerging artists and the program’s mentors. (SPA)

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the first center for New Media Arts in the Middle East and North Africa, launched its latest exhibition CONTINUUM ’26 on Thursday, showcasing the works of its second cohort of emerging artists and the program’s mentors.

Visitors explored a diverse range of cutting-edge technological media, including immersive and multimedia installations, light, sound, moving image, virtual reality, mixed reality, and AI-generated projects, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

CONTINUUM ’26 features artworks produced by 16 emerging artists and two mentors during DAF’s year-long Emerging New Media Artists Program. Curated by Irini Papadimitriou and Bushra Alghamdi, Assistant Curator, the exhibition explores questions surrounding memory, identity, place, belonging, repetition, and interspecies relationships.

Developed under the mentorship of artists Louis-Philippe Demers and Rick Treweek, the artworks explore the boundaries between the real and the artificial, human and artificial intelligence, the organic and synthetic.

Speaking at the exhibition launch, CEO of the Museums Commission Eng. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Hammad said: “Programs like the Emerging New Media Artists Program represent the long-term, deliberate investment needed to shape the future of the Kingdom's museum sector.

“By providing our artists with world-class facilities, mentorship, and the dedicated time to refine their craft, we are fueling innovation and sparking vital cultural conversations. CONTINUUM 26 brings a full year of that dedication into the public eye.”

The opening program kicked off with a panel conversation between exhibition artists Noel Apitta, Njood Albwardi, Badriya Alsalem, and Harpreet Sareen, in conversation with Bushra Alghamdi about the ideas behind their works in CONTINUUM '26.

The artists discussed the exhibition's themes – the power of artificial intelligence; memory and time; and embodied perception – exploring how each artist navigated their creative process and what questions drove them.

CONTINUUM ’26 is the second installment in a series of exhibitions at DAF, spotlighting diverse voices shaping the future of New Media Art in the region and beyond.

Developed in collaboration with Le Fresnoy – Studio national des arts contemporains in France, the Emerging New Media Artists Program gives emerging artists access to cutting-edge professional equipment and a production budget, as well as a wide range of multidisciplinary learning opportunities.

CONTINUUM ’26 is open to the public at Diriyah Art Futures and runs until November 7. The exhibition is accompanied by a public program of workshops, talks and other activities spanning AI, VR, digital photography, and much more.

Meet the Artists: an invitation to encounter the works of CONTINUUM '26 through the perspectives of the artists who made them. Over the opening weekend, artists will discuss the ideas and processes behind their works with visitors.