Islamic Arts Biennale 2027

The third edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale will take place from November 1, 2027, to March 1, 2028, at the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the Biennale is the world’s first event dedicated to exploring the arts of Islamic civilizations, bringing together historical treasures, cultural heritage, and contemporary artistic and architectural commissions.

The 2027 edition will create a dialogue between the rich artistic traditions of the Islamic world and contemporary creative practices, presenting artworks, architectural projects, exhibitions, and cultural programs that explore the diversity and evolving legacy of Islamic art.

A key highlight of the Biennale is the AlMusalla Prize 2027, an international architecture competition focused on designing a modular prayer space (musalla) for the event. The shortlisted studios are Al-Jawad Pike from the UK, Civil Architecture from Bahrain/Kuwait, MILLIØNS from the USA, and NEW SOUTH from France. The winning design will be announced in March 2027 and is planned to be relocated permanently to the JAX District in Diriyah after the Biennale.

The Biennale will also feature AlMadar, a year-round initiative bringing together digital repositories, symposia, workshops, research, and international institutional collaborations. Through these programs, the Islamic Arts Biennale aims to connect historical knowledge with contemporary creativity and foster a deeper global understanding of Islamic art, architecture, and cultural heritage.