This Riyadh Exhibition Is Making Everyone Rethink Weddings

If weddings are about love, ritual, and unforgettable moments, SAMoCA at JAX is turning that idea into an immersive artistic experience.

“A Night of a Lifetime,” the museum’s latest exhibition, invites visitors to explore marriage not just as a ceremony, but as a universal language of emotion, culture, and celebration. Running until 18 April 2026, the exhibition transforms the familiar world of weddings into a kaleidoscope of contemporary art, tradition, and imagination.

Hosted at SAMoCA at JAX in Diriyah, the exhibition brings together artists, cultural figures, and visitors in one of Riyadh’s most dynamic creative districts. Inside, visitors move through a multidisciplinary journey featuring photography, sculpture, installations, video, textiles, drawings, and interactive works—each offering a fresh perspective on what weddings mean across cultures and generations.

Curated by Philippe Castro and Alaa Tarabzouni, “A Night of a Lifetime” showcases works by more than 30 artists from Saudi Arabia, the region, and around the world. Participating Saudi artists include Ayman Yossri Daydaban, Reem Al Nasser, Hoda Alnasir, Fahad Bin Naif, and Maisa Shaldan, alongside regional and international names such as Majida Khattari and Shourouk Rhaiem.

Beyond its artistic scope, the exhibition also marks an important milestone for SAMoCA at JAX, as its first show to feature a local co-curator. The initiative highlights the museum’s role in empowering Saudi artists and positioning them alongside globally recognised creatives on an international stage.

Themes of love, heritage, belonging, and ritual run throughout the exhibition, enriched by newly commissioned works and notable contributions from international figures such as Italian designer Maurizio Galante and French photographer Valérie Belin. From the shimmer of gold and intricate embroidery to echoes of traditional music and carefully staged portraits, the exhibition draws inspiration from Saudi and Arab wedding traditions while engaging with global interpretations of partnership and ceremony.

“A Night of a Lifetime” is open to visitors from 26 January to 18 April 2026 at SAMoCA at JAX, Diriyah, Riyadh offering a poetic, thought-provoking way to experience one of humanity’s most celebrated traditions through the lens of contemporary art.

For more unmissable events, be sure to follow the Saudi Ministry of Culture on Instagram!

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