Ithra Unveils Ithra Design Week 2026 at Tanween Conclusion

 King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) concluded the eighth edition of its annual flagship design event, Tanween, with a major announcement marking a new chapter for design at Ithra: after eight years as Tanween, Ithra’s annual flagship design event will return in 2026 as Ithra Design Week.
 Across Tanween’s six days of seven hands-on workshops, 10 panel discussions, eight exhibitions, four design hackathons, and additional programming, the eighth and final edition laid the foundation for the event’s evolution into Ithra Design Week, launching in 2026. The new platform will expand Tanween’s purpose while broadening its scale by integrating design across all Ithra facilities—including the museum, library, cinema, publishing programs, and IdeaLab—and extending into public spaces across Eastern Region to connect local and global creative communities. This direction was previewed this year through guided tours developed with Khobar Municipality linking visitors to public art, architectural landmarks, and design-led urban spaces.
 During the closing ceremony, Ithra announced the winners of this year’s Tanween Challenges, which invited designers to address practical needs under the theme “Design for the 90 Percent.” The winning projects will continue into further development and contribute to the first edition of Ithra Design Week.
 At the closing ceremony, Ithra Programs Manager Noura Al Zamil commented on the transition to Ithra Design Week, stating 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 approach reflects Ithra’s efforts to strengthen its international design network and enable creators to work within a shared, expanded platform, which will remain a central feature of Ithra Design Week.