RIYADH: The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has been named as a medalist in the 2026 Art Basel Awards.
Selected as part of the Museum and Institution category alongside The Brick in Los Angeles and SAVVY Contemporary in Berlin, Diriyah Biennale Foundation has been recognized as a “key platform for regional artistic development” by the leading Swiss art fair.
“The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has been committed to bringing together artists, communities, and ideas across geographies,” said the foundation’s CEO Aya Al-Bakree in a statement.
“This award affirms that Saudi Arabia has a vital role to play in the global cultural conversation.”
Launched in 2025, the Art Basel Awards are dedicated to recognizing excellence across the contemporary art world.
Medalists are evaluated on: vision and innovation, skill and execution, engagement, and broader impact.
“Through this initiative, Art Basel reaffirms its role as a global platform for the advancement, discovery and production of art — not only recognizing excellence but actively creating the conditions for it to grow,” said Vincenzo de Bellis, chair of the award’s jury and chief artistic officer and global director of Art Basel Fairs.
“We are deeply grateful to our jury, nominators and the many experts whose insight and commitment make this process both rigorous and collaborative. It is this community-driven approach that defines the awards, reflecting the breadth and complexity of today’s cultural landscape.”
Founded in 2020 and chaired by Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation has emerged as a transformative force in the international cultural landscape.
Through its two flagship recurring events, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in Diriyah and the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, alongside the stewardship of the JAX creative district in Riyadh, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation is a force that drives cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and the world.
“In Interludes and Transitions,” the third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and the fifth Biennale organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, is open until May 2, 2026 at JAX District.
