Noor Riyadh 2025 is around the corner, and the city is gearing up to glow again with world-class light art from Saudi and international talents. This year’s edition runs 20 November-6 December 2025 under the theme “In the Blink of an Eye” a nod to Riyadh’s rapid transformation and the dialogue between its historic core and futuristic skyline. Expect 60+ large-scale artworks spread across six landmark sites, many positioned by new metro hubs for easy access.
Below, you’ll find everything you need to plan like a pro: confirmed dates and locations, how to navigate between sites, what the theme means on the ground, and practical tips.
Where the Art Will Be: The 6 Official Locations
Noor Riyadh 2025 concentrates its installations at six anchor sites chosen to make the theme tangible. Old meets new, footsteps meet train stops, and nightly commutes turn into art walks.
1) Qasr Al-Hokm District (Historic Riyadh)
Riyadh’s traditional heart (Masmak Fort, civic squares, and souqs) becomes an open-air gallery set against newly activated public spaces and the striking Qasr Al-Hokm metro interchange. The station itself is a showpiece (mirrored canopy and a “periscope” cone) and a powerful symbol of the festival’s heritage-to-future storyline.
Why Go: Historic plazas and narrow lanes make for dramatic projection canvases and light-sculpture vistas. The density here is perfect for a one-hour evening stroll.
2) King Abdulaziz Historical Center (KAHC)
Home to the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, libraries, gardens, and heritage venues, a perennial Noor Riyadh favorite. It’s pedestrian-friendly, green, and filled with vantage points for long-exposure photos.
Why Go: The mix of architecture and parkland yields family-friendly installations, plus plenty of seating and food options nearby.
3) STC Metro Station (Olaya)
A centerpiece of daily life turned art stage. This mega-interchange on King Fahd/King Abdullah links central neighborhoods, so expect high-impact works designed for crowds on the move.
Why Go: Seamless to reach from most city districts; ideal for a quick hit of art before dinner on Tahlia or a shopping run.
Also Read: Step Inside 5 Riyadh Metro Stations That Feel Like Landmarks
4) KAFD Metro Station (King Abdullah Financial District)
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, this futuristic interchange is Noor Riyadh’s dream backdrop: swooping lattices, dramatic volumes, and the city’s most cinematic station interiors. The surrounding KAFD skyline amplifies light works like a giant reflector.
Why Go: The architecture alone is worth the trip; pair with a walk under the illuminated towers for spectacular skyline shots.
5) Public Investment Fund (PIF) Tower
The KAFD’s tallest icon joins the festival footprint. Expect façade activations and sky-high light statements that play beautifully with the district’s glass and steel.
Why Go: For scale. Elevated viewpoints + monumental light = classic Noor Riyadh “wow” moments.
6) JAX District (Diriyah)
Riyadh’s creative warehouse quarter returns as a major hub. Expansive courtyards, galleries, and industrial textures that soak up color and projection. It’s also where you tend to find workshops, talks, and pop-ups woven into the art experience.
Why Go: The art-campus vibe. Grab a coffee, wander between halls, and linger.
Noor Riyadh 2024 Installations Across Riyadh.
What the Theme Means When You’re There
“In the Blink of an Eye” is about speed, change, and perspective. You’ll notice how curators place pieces to make you shift scale quickly. From a laser line skimming a skyline to intimate, human-scale light encounters in courtyards. The choice of metro interchanges as canvases is intentional: arrivals, departures, and split-second decisions become part of the artwork.
Curatorial notes also emphasize linking Riyadh’s heritage topography (Qasr Al-Hokm / KAHC) to its visionary infrastructure (Metro, KAFD towers). That tension (old stones, new steel) creates Noor Riyadh’s signature look in 2025.
Why Noor Riyadh Started
Launched in March 2021 under Riyadh Art, one of the Vision 2030 cultural megaprojects, Noor Riyadh was created to turn the capital into a “gallery without walls.” The festival brings world-class light art into everyday public spaces while nurturing Saudi talent, inspiring youth, and growing the creative economy through talks, workshops, and community programs. By activating heritage districts, parks, and new metro hubs, it makes art widely accessible and part of daily city life.
Awards & Global Recognition
Since its debut, Noor Riyadh has become a record-setter on the global stage. In 2022, it earned Guinness World Records “Largest light art festival.” In 2024, it added two more titles: “Longest Distance Covered by a Laser Beam in a Laser Show” for Chris Levine’s Supreme Power, and “Largest Illuminated Pyramid Artwork Made from Recyclable Materials” for Rashid Al Shashai’s The Fifth Pyramid, bringing the cumulative total to 16 Guinness titles and cementing Riyadh’s status as a leading city for light art.
A Glimpse into Noor Riyadh's Record-holding Light Artworks. 16 Guinness Titles, Laser Beam, Illuminated Pyramid, and Citywide Night Installations.
Make the Most of Noor Riyadh
Chase the glow at blue hour, wear comfy shoes, and let the city lead you. Noor Riyadh turns everyday streets into a gallery without walls. Check the day’s map, use the Metro when possible, and bring a power bank so you never miss a moment!