Saudi Arabia’s Noor Riyadh festival sets 6 Guinness World Records

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Noor Riyadh Festival 2023 has secured six new Guinness World Records, making it its third consecutive year of record-breaking achievements.
The records were set during the closing presentation of an art installation, after the 17 days of celebration, held from November 30 to December 16, 2023.
The festival’s organizing committee said that artist Christopher Bauder’s artwork titled “Dialogue” set a record for “the most lights used in a temporary light and sound show”. His installation used 560 light bulbs, illuminating both the Kingdom Center Tower and Al Faisaliah Tower. Another record was that of “the most lights in a light show on a single building”.
Moreover, Studio Drift’s “Desert Swarm” achieved the Guinness World Record for “the largest drone/multirotor bird swarm”, also shown at the festival. The event also set the record for “the largest multirotor/drones launched in a week”, with a fleet of 21,000 drones.
“The Magic Carpet, Origin of the World” by artist Miguel Chevalier secured a world record for “the largest interactive projection-mapped display”.
Yinka Ilori’s artwork “Block Cubes” set the record for the “largest temporary skate park”. The installation attracted a significant turnout of skiers in Riyadh.
Executive Director of Riyadh Art Program Eng. Khalid Abdullah Al-Hazani said that the third edition of the Noor Riyadh Festival “significantly enhanced Saudi Arabia’s international art standing”.
It marked a transformative development in the local art scene, he said, inspiring and motivating both local and international artists to foster greater creativity and innovation.
This positive impact extends to the quality of life of residents and visitors to Riyadh.
The festival attracted over 3.25 million visitors and displayed 120 artworks across five main centers in the capital: King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Wadi Hanifah, Wadi Namar, Salam Park and Jax District in Diriyah. It featured over 100 artists from 35 countries, including 35 Saudi artists.
Al-Hazani emphasized that obtaining international awards for three consecutive years through the festival, Saudi Arabia solidifies its position as “the world’s largest celebration of light arts”.
Noor Riyadh Festival is one of Riyadh Art Program’s major projects aiming to turn Riyadh into an art exhibition that blends authenticity and modernity. It supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to promote art among residents and visitors of Riyadh.