Light it up! The World’s Largest Light Festival Returns to Riyadh for the Fourth Time
Noor Riyadh, the world’s largest light festival, once again transformed Saudi Arabia’s capital into a mesmerizing open-air gallery. A multifaceted celebration of light, (“noor” means “light” in Arabic, so “Light of Riyadh”), this year’s edition, titled “Light Years Apart,” brought together 61 artists from across the globe—spanning France, Germany, the US, UK, UAE, and beyond—to showcase over 60 breathtaking site-specific installations exploring the connections between earth, sky, and humanity’s aspirational journey.
A Launch to Remember
The festival began with a Preview Night, setting the tone for what was to come. A standout moment was Aether, a breathtaking drone show curated by the London-based collective United Visual Artists. Featuring 1,500 choreographed drones, the seven-minute performance painted Riyadh’s night sky, celebrating the beauty of space, stars, and planets in a tribute to unity and harmony.
Colors of Life Across Riyadh
This year, Noor Riyadh’s installations were based around three hubs across the Kingdom’s capital, opening-up the exhibits to as many people as possible and reflecting the event’s exploration of connections between people, earth, and sky.
At the King Abdulaziz Historical Center hub, home to the national museum and the Murabba Palace, The Fifth Pyramid sparked into life. Rashed AlShashai, the artist behind this marvel, is now a Guinness World recordholder for creating the “Largest Illuminated Recyclable Material Sculpture of a Pyramid.” Niche? Maybe, but just look at it! Made from recyclable shipping pallets split by a brilliant fuchsia path, the artwork draws on the imagery of history to symbolize a brighter, more sustainable future.
In the serene natural hub of Wadi Hanifah, Romain Tardy’s The Great Indecision Council immersed visitors in light and sound projections of Google’s most-searched terms, inviting viewers to contemplate their digital footprints.
Meanwhile, at the JAX District – Riyadh’s young creative and artistic heart – JR’s Inside Out Riyadh – Light Years Apart was a mosaic of monochrome photos with a twist. Anyone could hop into the accompanying photo booth, snap a photo, and join the community on the wall. Once again, it was all about illuminating connections.
Across these venues, installations offered contrasting experiences that delivered complementary explorations of the event’s theme, welcoming visitors into an array of visual journeys that celebrated sky and earth, light and life, and everything that is Riyadh.
More Than Just Light Shows
While Noor Riyadh is known for illuminating the city’s skyline (it’s actually earned 16 Guinness World Records in just four years!), it’s more than a visual spectacle – it illuminates mind as well as matter. Family-friendly workshops, talks, and activities encouraged everyone in everything from trying their hand at creating art themselves in artist-led workshops to considering the role of public art in society through energetic discussion. From immersion in spirituality, sustainability, and human history, to hands-on combinations of education and entertainment Noor Riyadh connected visitors with artists and all with earth, sky, and human aspirations.
A Tribute to Riyadh’s Growing Cultural Scene
Noor Riyadh is an initiative of Riyadh Art, Saudi Arabia’s first civic art initiative, with a vision is to transform the capital’s public spaces into creative canvases, promoting greater artistic expression and encouraging residents and visitors alike to get involved.
As Noor Riyadh closes for another year, Riyadh is reaffirmed as a global cultural hub. Merging light, art, and storytelling, the festival was a true celebration of community, creativity, and the beauty of human expression and harmony in the Kingdom of Colors.
