Visual Arts Commission Marks World Photography Day by Highlighting the Journey of the Kingdom Photography Award

Riyadh, August 19, 2026, SPA -- Coinciding with World Photography Day, the Visual Arts Commission showcases the journey of the Kingdom Photography Award across three editions since its launch in 2022, aiming to support photography talents, foster artistic skills, and highlight the Kingdom’s cultural and visual diversity.
Over the course of its three editions, the award has traveled across Tabuk, Al-Ahsa, and Aseer, offering photographers unique opportunities to explore the Kingdom’s landscapes and heritage. The inaugural edition was held in Tabuk, followed by the second edition in Al-Ahsa, while the third edition took place in Aseer.
The award has attracted strong participation across the Kingdom throughout its three editions, receiving more than 2,000 submissions through open calls and selecting nearly 41 winners. It also featured programs ranging from panel talks and workshops to accompanying events, providing participants and audiences with opportunities to learn, exchange expertise, and engage with photographic approaches.
The award’s international presence was further strengthened through the “In a New Light” exhibition at the Abbazia Building in Venice, Italy, which brought together selected works from different editions of the award, presenting contemporary Saudi photographic perspectives to an international audience and highlighting the growth of local talent and the expanding range of artistic practices in the Kingdom.
The Visual Arts Commission continues to support photographers and provide platforms that enable them to explore the Kingdom and document its natural and cultural diversity, while strengthening the presence of photography as an artistic practice that enriches Saudi Arabia’s visual scene and presents it to local and international audiences. This contributes to the objective of Saudi Vision 2030 in developing the cultural sector and strengthening its presence.
-- SPA