In the Blink of an Eye: Noor Riyadh to Illuminate Saudi Capital in November
Noor Riyadh, the world’s largest light art festival, will make a much-awaited return to the Saudi capital this fall.
Under the theme “In the Blink of an Eye,” the citywide annual festival will showcase immersive artworks across Riyadh’s historic sites, urban landmarks, and metro network, highlighting the city’s evolution into a vibrant modern hub.
Noor Riyadh 2025
At the Armory Show in New York, Riyadh Art – a program led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) – unveiled the details of the fifth edition of Noor Riyadh, during a ceremony attended by Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the US, Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, along with prominent artists, curators, and media personalities from across the globe.
The world’s largest celebration of light and art will take place from November 20 to December 6, 2025, transforming Riyadh into a vivid gallery for breathtaking installations by creative local and international artists.
Aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, Noor Riyadh provides a platform for young talents, serving as a driver of Saudi Arabia’s creative economy. Through educational workshops, discussions, community activities and artistic shows, the festival fosters cultural exchange in addition to highlighting the creativity of visual artists, industrial designers, sculptors, musicians, and photographers by showcasing their innovative installations.
In the Blink of an Eye
This year’s theme, “In the Blink of an Eye,” reflects Riyadh’s rapid transformation into a vibrant hub blending heritage and modernity. It also demonstrates the city’s evolving identity, juxtaposing its historic core with its visionary infrastructure, including the newly launched metro system.
On this occasion, the Saudi Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, who is also a member of the Board of Directors of the RCRC, and Chairman of the Riyadh Art Program’s Steering Committee, said: “This year’s theme captures the momentum of change that defines Riyadh today. Through Noor Riyadh, we continue to deepen the role of public art in shaping cultural exchange, enriching daily life, and positioning Riyadh as a creative capital on the world stage.”
Bridging Past and Present
Building on the massive success of the previous editions, Noor Riyadh 2025 will display over 60 large-scale light installations across Riyadh’s urban and cultural landscape, underscoring the capital’s status as a premier platform for contemporary public art.
The installations will be distributed across 6 key locations in Riyadh, bridging the city’s glorious past with its bright present, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). These include Qasr Al-Hokm District, King Abdulaziz Historical Center, STC Station, Financial District Station, PIF Tower, and JAX District.
The festival will create a visual link between the city’s historical centers and its modern landmarks, particularly Riyadh Metro, turning Saudi Arabia’s capital city to a complete light artwork that beats with innovation and emphasizes Riyadh’s status as a global hub.
Noor Riyadh Curators
Noor Riyadh revealed the list of curators for this year’s edition. They include the director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Mami Kataoka, as the Curatorial Advisory Lead; the Chinese curator and multimedia artist, Li Zhenhua, as Curator; and Saudi designer and visual artist, Sara Al-Mutlaq, as Curator.
4 seasons of lighting up Riyadh🌌.#NoorRiyadh opens its 5th chapter #InTheBlinkOfAnEye ✨#RiyadhArt pic.twitter.com/tBazkbeaAb
— نور الرياض (@NoorRiyadhFest) September 5, 2025
The previous edition, Noor Riyadh 2024, featured more than 60 artists from 18 countries, with 18 skilled Saudi artists showcasing their creative artworks and light installations. This year’s edition is also expected to bring an elite of local and international artists.
Breaking Records
Launched in 2021, Noor Riyadh has established itself as the world’s largest light art festival, showcasing more than 450 artworks by prominent Saudi and international artists and attracting over 9.6 million visitors. The captivating festival has broken records by securing 16 Guinness World Record titles in four consecutive years.
These include the Longest Distance Covered by a Laser Light in a Laser Show; the Largest Illuminated Recyclable Material Sculpture of a Pyramid; the Largest Light Art Festival; the Most Drones Performing an Aerial Dance Display; Most Drones Launched in a Week; Largest Interactive Projection-mapped Display; and Most Lights in a Light Show on a Single Building.
