SHARES

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has marked a pivotal moment in its design journey. As the eighth and final edition of its flagship event Tanween came to a close, Ithra announced a bold transformation: beginning in 2026, the annual gathering will relaunch under a new identity — Ithra Design Week.

This shift signals more than a simple name change. It marks the evolution of Tanween into a broader, more ambitious platform that positions design as a driving force across Ithra’s entire ecosystem.

A Transition Rooted in Growth

Over its six-day run, the final edition of Tanween showcased the scale and maturity the event has reached. Packed with workshops, talks, exhibitions, hackathons, and collaborative projects, the programme demonstrated how deeply design thinking has become embedded in the centre’s operations.

Acting Director Mussab AlSaraan commemorated key partners—including Isola Design Group—with recognition awards, highlighting the international collaborations that have shaped Tanween’s success.

Design Expands Across Ithra

Ithra Design Week will extend the influence of design into every corner of the centre:

  • the museum,

  • the cinema,

  • the IdeaLab,

  • the library and publishing wings,

  • and into cities across the Eastern Province.

Two of Tanween’s site-specific design pavilions will become permanent installations in parks in Khobar, contributing to a growing network of public design interventions.

Partnerships with entities such as Dubai Design Week, Isola Design Group, and the Municipality of Khobar underscore Ithra’s expanding regional and global footprint.

Celebrating the Next Generation of Innovators

The closing ceremony also spotlighted the winners of the 2025 Tanween Challenges. Projects emerging from the Urban Spaces Challenge, the Global Impact Challenge, and others will now progress into development for the inaugural Ithra Design Week.

These ideas embody the forward-looking spirit Ithra aims to champion — socially engaged, locally grounded, and globally connected.

A New Chapter Begins

“Nurturing creativity has been at the core of Tanween for eight years,” said Noura Al Zamil, Programs Manager at Ithra. “Ithra Design Week represents the next chapter — one that elevates collaboration, experimentation and innovation on an even broader scale.”

As Tanween closes its chapter, it leaves behind a rich legacy of themes, prototypes and cultural dialogue. That foundation now becomes the launchpad for Ithra Design Week, set to become one of Saudi Arabia’s defining platforms for design, creativity and future-thinking.