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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

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.

Culture

Italy Buys Rare Caravaggio Portrait for 30 Million Euros

The portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini was painted by Italian master Caravaggio when the nobleman born in 1568 was in his 30s © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP/File
The portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini was painted by Italian master Caravaggio when the nobleman born in 1568 was in his 30s © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP/File
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Italy Buys Rare Caravaggio Portrait for 30 Million Euros

The portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini was painted by Italian master Caravaggio when the nobleman born in 1568 was in his 30s © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP/File
The portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini was painted by Italian master Caravaggio when the nobleman born in 1568 was in his 30s © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP/File

Italy has paid 30 million euros for a Caravaggio painting of the future pope Urban VIII, the culture ministry said Tuesday, a work that will enter the Barberini museum collection in Rome.

The portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini was painted by Italian master Caravaggio when the nobleman born in 1568 was in his 30s, years before he became pope.

"This is a work of exceptional importance," Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said in a statement, adding that it was "one of the most significant investments" ever made by the state for an artwork.

Maffeo Barberini was elected to the papacy in 1623 and his pontificate lasted until his death in 1644.

The painting was authenticated in 1963 by the art critic Roberto Longhi, a great specialist in the work of the 16th-century artist, whose full name was Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

"This acquisition, together with the recent purchase of the Ecce Homo by Antonello da Messina, is part of a broader project to strengthen the national cultural heritage," he said.

The previous owners of the work, who were not specified, had allowed the portrait to be exhibited to the public for an exhibit on Caravaggio at Palazzo Barberini -- the noble family's historic home in central Rome -- which ended in February 2025.

The museum's director, Thomas Clement Salomon, told AFP at the exhibition's opening in November 2024 that the fact it was being displayed was "exceptional."

"It has never been lent to an exhibition, it has never been seen in a museum, so it is an absolute preview," he said.

In the painting, a seated Barberini is clutching a letter in his left hand, with his right pointing forward, towards the viewer.

Around 65 paintings in the world have been "securely attributed" to Caravaggio, according to the ministry statement, while portraits are very rare, with only three "known and firmly accepted."

Culture

Reindeer Racing Thrills Spectators in Finland’s Frigid North Near the Russian Border

A reindeer breaks away from the pack during the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event on the frozen Lake Keselmajarvi in Salla, Finland, March 7, 2026. (AP)
A reindeer breaks away from the pack during the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event on the frozen Lake Keselmajarvi in Salla, Finland, March 7, 2026. (AP)
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Reindeer Racing Thrills Spectators in Finland’s Frigid North Near the Russian Border

A reindeer breaks away from the pack during the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event on the frozen Lake Keselmajarvi in Salla, Finland, March 7, 2026. (AP)
A reindeer breaks away from the pack during the Salla Porocup reindeer sprint racing event on the frozen Lake Keselmajarvi in Salla, Finland, March 7, 2026. (AP)

Traditional reindeer racing that's been delighting spectators for decades in Finland brought hundreds of fans to the Salla Reindeer Cup in the frigid town of Salla this past weekend.

Around 1,000 people attended the competition, despite frigid subfreezing temperatures and the remote location near the Russian border, roughly 264 kilometers (164 miles) northeast of the city of Oulu.

They watched and cheered as the reindeer galloped across the snow-covered track, pulling their handlers behind them on skis. Whoever is fastest wins the race.

Spectators came not only from Finland but also Italy, Norway, Germany and France, among other countries.

Reindeer husbandry has been an important part of Scandinavian culture for many decades, especially for the Sami Indigenous people in the far north of the country.

"Salla has a long history in reindeer racing — it’s been going on here since the 1950s," said Lasse Aatsinki, the head of Salla Reindeer Cup. "Back then, men spent winters in the forest, there were no snowmobiles. In late winter, the reindeer were in great shape, so they started racing them."

These days, reindeer racing is an organized and regulated competition with trained male reindeer.

The premiere event was the so-called hot series, in which reindeer qualify if they race the kilometer-long (just over a half-mile) track in 1 minute, 19 seconds, or less. Only the fastest reindeer get to compete in this race.

"It’s a science. A lot depends on the reindeer’s character — it has to tolerate a lot: the audience, other reindeer, noise, movement," Aatsinki said. "Everyone has their tricks — and they’re usually kept under the fur hat. Every owner has their own way."

During the race, crowds cheered their favorites on with calls of "hyvä, hyvä" and "mene, mene" — which is Finnish for "good, good" and "go, go" — as the reindeer sprinted down the final stretch.

In between races, people kept warm with reindeer soup and kampanisu, a traditional local pastry specialty from Salla.

The competition culminated Sunday with the final rounds and it was reindeer named Pompom which won the final race.

"Pompom is exceptionally fast and smart, and you rarely find one like that," said Hannu Krupula, the winning animal's owner.

"If there’s any weakness, it’s that it’s not very good-looking — which can be misleading," he added.

"When you look at that reindeer, you might quickly think it’s poorly fed or something. But it eats well. It’s a rare individual."

And thus after the race, Pompom and all the other reindeer got their own reward — lichen, their favorite treat.