The art of the wedding

Welcome to AL-MONITOR Riyadh.

Against the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions, Saudi Arabia’s cultural scene continues to move forward. This week, we spotlight a joyful exhibition at SAMoCA in Riyadh’s JAX District that explores marriage as a universal symbol of love through creative interpretations of Middle Eastern weddings. We also highlight a solo show at ATHR Gallery in Jeddah featuring intricate work by Saudi artist Asma Bahmim.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Riyadh's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: ‘A Night of a Lifetime’ 

Aziz Jamal. “Hearts, Bear Witness.” 2025. Multimedia installation. (Courtesy of SAMoCA) 

Middle Eastern weddings are often extravagant, almost otherworldly affairs — and for good reason. For many, it is a once-in-a-lifetime moment long imagined and carefully staged. In the region, the wedding day is a particularly theatrical event, as “A Night of a Lifetime,” on view at SAMoCA in Riyadh’s JAX District, makes clear.

Curated by Philippe Castro and Saudi co-curator Alaa Tarabzouni, the exhibition explores marriage as a universal act of love and celebration through the work of more than 30 artists from Saudi Arabia, including Ayman Yossri Daydaban, Reem Al Nasser, Hoda Alnasir, Fahad Bin Naif and Maisa Shaldan, alongside regional names such as Majida Khattari and Shourouk Rhaiem. It also marks SAMoCA’s first exhibition co-curated by a Saudi, underscoring the institution’s growing focus on elevating local voices.

Spanning photography, installation, sculpture, video, textiles, drawing and interactive digital works, the show brings together both intimate and opulent reflections on the wedding day. It features several new commissions alongside loans from international artists including Italian designer Maurizio Galante and French photographer Valerie Belin.

Widely praised by local and international audiences, the exhibition reimagines the emotional, ceremonial and cultural dimensions of weddings in the Middle East through a contemporary artistic lens.

Date: Until April 18

Location: SAMOCA, Diriyah, Riyadh

Find more information here. 

2. Word on the street: Kantami

A view of Kantami’s dynamic setting in Riyadh. (Courtesy of Kantami)

One of Riyadh’s most in-demand dining spots right now is Kantami, a Japanese restaurant that opened in the capital in January 2026. First launched in Al Khobar, it has built a loyal following for its bold take on Japanese cuisine.

Inspired by kintsugi — the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with powdered gold, silver and platinum — the space leans into a cinematic, modern izakaya aesthetic that feels both casual and refined.

On the menu, standouts include the TNT ebi bao, beef katsu sando, roripoppu prawn lollipops and the azabu salmon donburi.

Location: Nawaf Square, Al Malqa, Riyadh

Find more information here.

3. Riyadh diary

Asma Bahmim. “Rose Explosion IV.” 2025. Natural pigments on handmade paper. (Courtesy of the artist and ATHR Gallery) 

• ‘Here, Now’ by Asma Bahmim

Curated by Noran Reda, “Here, Now” presents the intricate work of Saudi artist Asma Bahmim, exploring experiences that remain unresolved and uncertain. The exhibition positions the present as a moment of fragile stability amid broader personal and collective unease. Featured works include Circle Star and the Nebula series — delicate, miniature-inspired pieces created using natural pigments on handmade paper. Beneath their calm, meticulous surfaces lies a quiet tension, suggesting that transformation may be on the horizon.

Date: Until April 30, 2026

Location: ATHR Gallery, Jeddah

Find more information here.

• 14th Cultures and Peoples Festival

Now in its 14th edition, this cultural event in Madinah showcases traditions, cuisines and heritage presented by students from over 90 countries, alongside a rich program of Saudi cultural activities. Designed to encourage exchange, dialogue and the celebration of diverse traditions, it unfolds in the heart of the kingdom’s holy city. The festival is among the flagship events of this year’s Madinah season.

Date: Until April 6

Location: Islamic University of Madinah Campus, Madinah

Find more information here. 

• ‘Echoes of the Familiar’

This exhibition explores the idea of home as something that transcends physical space. Through a range of works, it reflects on how memories tied to people and places shape our sense of belonging just as much as the spaces we inhabit. Curated by Saudi Gaida AlMogren, the show weaves together references from childhood and adulthood, capturing moments of joy, laughter, sorrow and longing — the experiences that ultimately define both physical and emotional notions of home.

Date: Until April 30

Location: Ithra, Dhahran

Find more information here. 

4. Book of the week: ‘Target Tehran’

Yonah Jeremy Bob and Ilan Evyatar’s acclaimed 2023 nonfiction book, which details Israel’s campaign to thwart Iran’s nuclear program through sabotage, targeted assassinations and cyberwarfare, remains a timely read. The book sheds light on Mossad operations and argues that these efforts helped to pave the way for the 2020 Abraham Accords by aligning Israeli interests with those of several Arab states. Bob and Evyatar trace how these tactics — at times carried out in coordination with the United States — have reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

5. View from Riyadh

A view of the “Night of a Lifetime" exhibition opening at SAMoCA at JAX. (Courtesy of SAMoCA on Jan. 27, 2026)

6. By the numbers

• According to Gensler’s City Pulse 2025 report, 88% of Riyadh residents rated the city a “great place to live,” and 90% said it was a “great place to work.”
• The same survey found 94% pointed to strong neighborhood amenities, while 87% highlighted social opportunities.