Riyadh’s Noor Riyadh 2025 Festival Draws Record 7 Million Visitors and Wins 12 Global Awards
Riyadh – The Noor Riyadh 2025 festival has wrapped up a landmark fifth edition, celebrating a record-breaking seven million visitors and earning 12 prestigious international awards that elevate Riyadh’s status as a global hub for artistic innovation.
Its latest achievements reinforce the festival’s position as the world’s largest and most influential light art event, showcasing the Kingdom’s growing cultural dynamism.
Organized under the Riyadh Art program of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, this year’s edition brought together 59 artists from 24 countries.
With 60 installations placed across major locations in the capital, the festival created an immersive citywide experience blending creativity, technology, and cultural storytelling.
The 2025 theme, “In the Blink of an Eye,” invited audiences to explore how moments, memories, and emotions can be transformed through light.
Iconic sites such as the King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Qasr Al-Hokm District, JAX District, King Abdullah Financial District, and Al-Faisaliah Tower became open-air galleries filled with color, movement, and futuristic design.
Noor Riyadh’s global recognition continues to grow, with this year’s awards including honors from LIT Lighting Design Awards, Muse Design Awards, TITAN Awards, and the New York Architecture Awards.
These accolades highlight the festival’s role as an international platform for creative excellence and technological experimentation.
The festival also achieved four Guinness World Records, underscoring its commitment to pushing artistic boundaries.
The records include the largest moving water-based art installation, the largest illuminated emoji, the largest AI-powered projection mapping on a building, and the largest 3D-printed mural artwork.
Leaders from the Riyadh Art program emphasized that the event strengthens Riyadh’s vision of becoming a global cultural destination.
According to the organizers, Noor Riyadh demonstrates how public art can uplift urban spaces, inspire community pride, and reshape the cultural identity of a modern metropolis.
Beyond the large-scale installations, the festival expanded its community engagement efforts, offering workshops, artist talks, guided tours, and family-friendly activities.
These programs brought tens of thousands of residents and visitors into direct interaction with the artworks, fostering artistic curiosity and creative learning.
This year’s educational outreach focused on introducing young audiences to digital art, design principles, and the possibilities of emerging technologies.
Families also enjoyed nightly shows and storytelling sessions, adding to the festival’s welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.
The success of Noor Riyadh reflects the broader cultural transformation underway in the Kingdom, where public art is becoming an integral part of city planning and social development.
By merging tradition with innovation, the festival celebrates both local talent and global perspectives within one vibrant platform.
As part of the Riyadh Art program’s long-term vision, Noor Riyadh is just one pillar of a larger initiative to turn the city into an open-air gallery.
Upcoming projects include Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026, which will bring international sculptors to Riyadh to collaborate, create, and engage with local communities.
The festival’s growing international attention is also boosting cultural tourism, drawing travelers who seek immersive art experiences in dynamic urban environments.
Its blend of creativity, diversity, and technological advancement reflects the spirit of a city evolving into a global creative capital.
With its record-breaking achievements and expanding global reputation, Noor Riyadh 2025 stands as a symbol of artistic ambition and cultural progress.
As preparations for future editions begin, the festival continues to illuminate Riyadh’s skyline and inspire millions with the transformative power of light.
