Arduna will open to the public from 1 February to 15 April 2026, forming a key highlight of the fifth edition of the AlUla Arts Festival. Presented by Arts AlUla in collaboration with AlUla’s forthcoming contemporary art museum, the exhibition marks a significant moment in the region’s cultural development.

Co-curated with Centre Pompidou and supported by AFALULA (French Agency for AlUla Development), Arduna brings together more than 80 artworks by artists from Saudi Arabia, the wider MENA region, and international contexts. The exhibition reflects a dialogue between local narratives and global contemporary art practices, positioning AlUla as an emerging centre for cultural exchange.

Arduna, which translates to “our land” in English, offers audiences an early glimpse into the curatorial vision of AlUla’s future contemporary art museum, a global institution rooted in the region’s cultural oasis and heritage. The showcased works are drawn from the Royal Commission for AlUla’s (RCU) growing collection, alongside significant pieces from the collection of the Musée National d’Art Moderne – Centre Pompidou. The exhibition is co-curated by Candida Pestana with associate curator Ftoon AlThaedi from the Royal Commission for AlUla, and Anna Hiddleston with associate curator Noémie Fillon from Centre Pompidou.

Arduna Artistic Direction and Curatorial Concept

AlUla has long been more than a point on a map. Positioned along the historic Incense Road that once connected India and the Arabian Gulf with the Levant and Europe, it served as a place of pause for traders crossing vast desert landscapes. Here, goods were safeguarded, journeys were broken, and minds found rest. AlUla functioned as a refuge—part sanctuary, part garden—set against the scale and silence of the desert.

This exhibition draws directly from that idea of AlUla as a garden within an arid expanse. Using the landscape as its conceptual foundation, the curatorial vision explores how artists, past and present, respond to nature as both a physical reality and an emotional space. Through more than 80 artworks across disciplines, the exhibition traces how our relationship with land, environment, and place has shifted over time.

Masterworks by modern pioneers such as Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Joan Mitchell, and David Hockney appear alongside contemporary voices shaping today’s cultural discourse. These include Saudi artists Ayman Zedani and Manal AlDowayan, as well as influential regional figures such as Imran Qureshi, Samia Halaby, and Etel Adnan. Together, their works create a layered conversation between eras, geographies, and artistic languages.

Structured across six thematic chapters, the exhibition moves through gardens, forests, deserts, and even imagined cosmic landscapes. Each section reflects a different expression of nature, examining how it is remembered, altered, or reimagined. Along the way, the artworks address urgent global concerns—from climate change and urban expansion to migration and the realities of the Anthropocene.

Rather than offering definitive answers, the exhibition invites reflection. It considers how art can help rethink humanity’s place within nature and encourages new ways of coexisting with the world we continue to shape.

New commissions

As part of AlUla’s evolving creative ecosystem, Arduna will introduce new artwork commissions developed in close dialogue with the region’s unique landscapes and cultural narratives. Audiences will see new works by Saudi artist Ayman Zedani and Lebanese artist Tarek Atoui, both of whom created their projects during the AlUla Artists Residency Program.

The exhibition also unveils new commissions from Saudi artist Dana Awartani, Bahamian conceptual artist Tavares Strachan, and French artist Renaud Auguste-Dormeuil. Together, these works reflect the museum’s role in producing works that emerge from, and contribute to, the vibrant network of artists, curators and communities that define AlUla’s unique creative identity.

Hamad Alhomiedan, Director of Arts & Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), said: Arduna is a landmark moment for AlUla Arts Festival, reflecting Arts AlUla’s emerging position at the heart of global conversations on art, culture and the environment. This exhibition brings together exceptional works from Saudi Arabia, the region and the world, engaging audiences with themes that touch on our shared relationship to nature and land. Arduna showcases bold curatorial ideas and creates opportunities for artists to engage deeply with AlUla’s unique heritage and landscapes. It is a celebration of creativity without borders and a significant step towards establishing AlUla as a year-round hub for cultural innovation and artistic excellence.”

Laurent Le Bon, President of the Centre Pompidou, said, “This exhibition is a very important step in our partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla, as we welcome the public to witness the first fruits of Centre Pompidou’s strategic advisory role for AlUla’s forthcoming contemporary art museum. We share the fundamental mission of promoting cultural heritage and fostering lasting intercultural dialogue, and we look forward to welcoming the public, and particularly young visitors, to this unique exhibition showcasing the artistic landscapes of Saudi Arabia, France and well beyond.”

Visitor experience and locations

Arduna will be a ticketed exhibition and staged within the galleries of the forthcoming contemporary art museum’s pre-opening spaces, giving visitors an opportunity to explore world-class art within a setting that bridges ancient heritage and contemporary creation. As part of the AlUla Arts Festival 2026, the annual celebration that transforms the ancient city into a stage for art, design and culture, Arduna marks a key step towards the launch of AlUla’s contemporary art museum.

This thoughtfully collaborative exhibition reflects the museum’s commitment to curatorial depth, cultural dialogue and accessibility. By presenting work on this scale, the museum advances its mission to collect and present contemporary art with depth and integrity.  Through the commissioning of innovative and anchoring projects, the contemporary art museum aims to help shape the cultural discourse of today and tomorrow.

Visitors will encounter an institution that delivers profound artistic experiences, cultivating knowledge, creativity, reflection and cultural exchange. It connects audiences with meaningful encounters, fosters the development of regional talent, and positions AlUla as a vital centre in the global cultural network. For more information, visit Expereince Alula.