Got an artsy person in your life who will not stop info-dumping (affectionate) on you?
The Visual Arts Commission has announced the ‘Bedayat: Beginnings of Saudi Art Movement’ exhibition and you have to check it out with the art lover in your life.
The January art show will celebrate and document the formative years of Saudi Arabia’s modern art scene, spotlighting pioneering artists from the 1960s to 1980s.
Curated by Qaswra Hafez, the exhibition explores how artists of this generation drew from Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage while actively engaging with global artistic movements and exchanges.
So, pencil in some time for cultural engagement next year. Here is everything to know about the upcoming show.
Bedayat: Beginnings of Saudi Art Movement 2026
Bedayat will be a seminal exhibition that celebrates and documents the formative years of Saudi Arabia’s art scene and the emergence of a pioneering generation of artists.
The exhibition will trace the evolution of artistic practices in the Kingdom, as shaped by the cultural, social, and economic transformations that began in the mid-twentieth century.
Bedayat: Beginnings of Saudi Art Movement 2026 exhibition location
An art show as important as this one demands an iconic space. Which is why it will be held at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia in Al Murabba.
Bedayat: Beginnings of Saudi Art Movement 2026 exhibition dates
Starting from Tuesday, January 27, 2026, you will be able to marvel at paintings, sculptures, works on paper, and rare archival materials, many of which will go on display for the first time. The art show is set to end on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Bedayat: Beginnings of Saudi Art Movement 2026 exhibition tickets
Tickets for the show will be released closer to the opening date. The article will be updated once the tickets are live.
Bedayat: Beginnings of Saudi Art Movement 2026 exhibition theme
Bedayat aims to trace the evolution of artistic practices shaped by the Kingdom’s cultural, social, and economic transformations in the mid-20th century
What to expect at the Bedayat: Beginnings of Saudi Art Movement 2026 exhibition
The show can feel daunting to many, so for your ease, the organizers have broken the show up as follows,
- Foundation of the Modern Art Movement in Saudi Arabia
- Currents of Modernity
- Modernist Pioneers
The exhibition shines a spotlight on trailblazers Mohammed Al-Saleem, Safeya Binzagr, Mounirah Mosly, and Abdulhalim Radwi, telling the story of how Saudi artists fused deep local heritage with global modernist ideas, while building the institutions, communities, and grassroots movements that shaped the scene. Beyond the gallery walls, the journey continues with a full exhibition publication, an original documentary film, and a lively program of talks, workshops, and masterclasses. All of it forms part of the Visual Arts Commission’s bigger mission to archive, celebrate, and push forward the story of Saudi visual culture.
Art in Saudi
The Kingdom’s art scene is unmatched with the capital city doing annual events like Noor Riyadh, the largest light art festival in the world. There is also the Diriyah Art Futures which was the first-ever new media focused gallery in the MENA region.
Tue Jan 27- Sat Apr 11, 2026. National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Al Murabba, moc.gov.sa.
