Ithra Announces Transition From Tanween To Ithra Design Week In 2026

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, known as Ithra, has wrapped up the eighth edition of its annual design event, Tanween. This marks a significant transition as the event will be rebranded as Ithra Design Week in 2026. Over six days, Tanween featured seven workshops, ten panel discussions, eight exhibitions, and four hackathons. This final edition set the stage for its evolution into a broader platform.

During the closing ceremony, Ithra revealed the winners of this year's Tanween Challenges. These challenges encouraged designers to address practical needs under the theme "Design for the 90 Percent." The winning projects will advance further and contribute to the inaugural Ithra Design Week. This initiative aims to foster creativity and collaboration among designers and communities.

Ithra Design Week will broaden Tanween's purpose by integrating design across all its facilities. This includes the museum, library, cinema, publishing programs, and IdeaLab. Additionally, it will extend into public spaces throughout the Eastern Region to connect local and global creative communities. This expansion was previewed through guided tours developed with Khobar Municipality.

These tours linked visitors to public art, architectural landmarks, and design-led urban spaces. By doing so, Ithra aims to strengthen its international design network and enable creators to work within a shared platform. This expanded approach will remain a central feature of Ithra Design Week.

Noura Al Zamil, Ithra Programs Manager, commented on this transition during the closing ceremony. She stated that after eight years of Tanween, the new platform "represents a new chapter in fostering creativity and collaboration—bringing together designers, communities, and ideas to expand our impact across Saudi Arabia and beyond."

This new direction reflects Ithra's commitment to enhancing its role in the global design community. By creating a more inclusive platform that connects diverse creative minds, Ithra aims to make a lasting impact both locally and internationally.

The transformation from Tanween to Ithra Design Week signifies an exciting development for design at Ithra. With plans already underway for 2026, this evolution promises to bring fresh opportunities for collaboration and innovation within Saudi Arabia's creative landscape.

With inputs from SPA