DUBAI: The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has announced the four lead curators for the third edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale, which will open on Nov. 1, 2027, at Jeddah’s Western Hajj Terminal.
The 2027 edition will be led by Nada Raza, director of the Alserkal Arts Foundation; William Robinson, former head of the Islamic Art department at Christie’s; Alain Fouad George, I. M. Pei Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture at the University of Oxford and director of the Lusail Institute in Doha; and Idries Trevathan, former chief curator of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran.
The biennale, conceived and launched by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, is the first global biennale dedicated exclusively to Islamic art and culture, bringing historical works into dialogue with contemporary commissions.
The 2027 edition will explore Islamic art and culture as a dynamic and evolving field shaped by movement and encounters, with a focus on scholarship and contemporary culture.
Each lead curator will present a distinct exhibition, bringing an individual perspective to the biennale while exploring intangible heritage, resilience and community.
The third edition will also continue to bring together significant works from Islamic art collections around the world.
The biennale will return to the Aga Khan Award-winning Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
The biennale will continue to broaden its institutional outreach through AlMadar ("the Orbit"). Conceived by the foundation, the collaborative platform convenes Saudi and international institutions, museums, and individuals that represent Islamic culture and art. In 2027, AlMadar will grow to include a digitized archival platform and expanded programs in Saudi Arabia and at partner institutions worldwide, fostering a sustained global network dedicated to deepening and sharing knowledge of Islamic arts.
New contemporary artworks, commissioned by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, will feature prominently throughout the biennale. The outdoor area will showcase the winning design from the second edition of the AlMusalla Prize, which reimagines the future of spaces of worship. Situated beneath the Hajj Terminal’s iconic canopies, the installation will weave together contemporary artworks and curated public programs for visitors.
