The fifth edition of the Noor Riyadh festival is set to transform the Saudi capital from 20 November to 6 December 2025 under the theme “In the Blink of an Eye”. Organised by Riyadh Art in collaboration with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, the event will bring together 59 artists from 24 countries, presenting more than 60 artworks including over 35 newly commissioned pieces. The city’s urban fabric—from heritage districts to modern metro stations—will serve as a vast stage for immersive light installations that reflect Riyadh’s rapid evolution.
The curatorial team spearheading the festival features Mami Kataoka (Director of the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo), Sara Almutlaq (Riyadh-based curator) and Li Zhenhua (curator of film and digital media). Highlights include a special installation honouring the late Saudi-pioneer artist Safeya Binzagr, while venues spanning the historic Al-Hokm District, King Abdulaziz Historical Center, and metro stations such as KAFD and stc will host large-scale works that explore themes of change, perception and light as medium. According to festival director Nouf Almoneef, the event “captures the city’s momentum through light,” inviting residents and visitors alike to witness how art connects cultures and reshapes public space.