Noor Riyadh 2024, the world’s largest light art festival and a flagship program of Riyadh Art, concluded its successful fourth edition, welcoming over 3 million spectators and bringing together over 60 artworks by more than 60 artists from 18 countries. Under the theme “Light Years Apart”, audiences experienced the festival across three iconic hubs: King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Wadi Hanifah and JAX District.
The festival also featured a striking city-scale light installation at Al Faisaliah Tower, transforming Riyadh into a luminous celebration of art and innovation. This year’s festival brought together 18 Saudi and 43 international artists with site-specific and newly commissioned artworks.
“Noor Riyadh 2024 celebrated humanity’s connection to the stars, sparking inspiration and dialogue through the universal language of art. We look forward to continuing Riyadh’s journey of cultural transformation,” stated Architect Khalid Al-Hazani, the executive director of Riyadh Art.
Community engagement with art
Exceptional installations at Noor Riyadh 2024 included Chris Levine’s Higher Power, Maryam Tariq’s Shifting Perspectives, and Aether by United Visual Artists. Another standout work, Rashed AlShashai’s The Fifth Pyramid, symbolized Riyadh’s cultural transformation.
The festival achieved two new Guinness World Records Titles. Higher Power by Chris Levine earned the title for the Longest Distance Covered by a Laser Light in a Laser Show. Meanwhile, The Fifth Pyramid by Rashed AlShashai was awarded for the Largest Illuminated Recyclable Material Sculpture of a Pyramid.
Chris Levine’s “Higher Power” transforms Al Faisaliah Tower into a city-scale light installation during Noor Riyadh. A powerful laser beam projects in Morse code a message across the skyline with the word ‘Salaam’, meaning ‘peace’ in Arabic.
📍ِAl Faisaliah Tower#NoorRiyadh… pic.twitter.com/m1Phz7MZHL
— نور الرياض (@NoorRiyadhFest) December 14, 2024
As part of the community engagement program, which attracted over 52,000 participants, Noor Riyadh 2024 also organized a variety of activities that sought to inspire and connect with the community. These included engaging talks, insightful discussions, interactive workshops, creative experiences, family-friendly activities, and tours that enriched the festival experience for visitors.
“Once again, this year’s festival united local and international artists for a truly world-class festival. I extend my deepest gratitude to the incredible team, our staff, volunteers, and partners for their exceptional efforts and collaboration, as well as to the millions of spectators whose engagement made this festival unforgettable,” stated Noor Riyadh festival director Nouf Almoneef.
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Riyadh, a global cultural hub
Noor Riyadh 2024 underscores Riyadh Art’s mission to transform the city into a vibrant cultural hub for public art. As the world’s largest public art initiative, Riyadh Art also unveiled monumental public artwork to coincide with the opening of Riyadh Metro. Installations such as Alexander Calder’s Janey Waney and Robert Indiana’s LOVE further embody this commitment, turning Riyadh’s daily commute into a celebration of art, architecture and creativity. Since 2019, Riyadh Art has presented over 500 artworks by more than 500 artists, attracting millions of visitors.
The festival stands as a testament to the Kingdom’s dedication to fostering creativity, cultural dialogue, and public art. Noor Riyadh’s journey continues to illuminate Riyadh’s path as a global cultural destination.
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