Riyadh has once again become a hub of artistic energy as the 7th edition of the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium opened in the Saudi capital this month. Running from January 10 to February 22, 2026, the annual event invites the public to watch stone and metal transform into expressive works of art.
Under the theme “Traces of What Will Be,” the symposium explores transformation in both material and idea. Twenty-five artists from 18 countries, including Saudi Arabia, have been selected from a pool of nearly 600 applicants. They are creating large-scale sculptures on site, allowing visitors to follow every strike of the chisel and bend of metal.
A key feature of this year’s event is its focus on local materials and sustainability. Artists are working primarily with Saudi granite, sometimes combined with stainless steel and reclaimed metals. These choices reflect a growing emphasis on environmental awareness and the possibilities of recycled material in public art.
The symposium is not a closed-door studio. Each day, people walk through the open-air site, watch sculptures taking shape, and engage with the process. Workshops, panel discussions, and community activities run alongside the main art creation, drawing families, students, and art lovers into the experience.
When completed, every piece will become part of the Riyadh Art permanent collection and be installed across the city. This is part of a broader vision to turn Riyadh into a living gallery, with public artworks woven into everyday life.
Since its launch in 2019, Tuwaiq Sculpture has helped shape Riyadh’s cultural identity by bringing together more than 150 artists from around the world and anchoring over 150 public works in the city’s streets and parks.
From massive stone forms to inventive shapes forged from reclaimed metal, the 2026 symposium highlights creativity that connects heritage, community, and future possibilities. For visitors, it’s more than a showcase; it’s an invitation to witness art in the making.
