Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, October 15, 2025
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation announces the return of PaperBack – Art Book Fair to JAX District for its second edition. Taking place from November 6 to 8, 2025, this vibrant cultural and creative gathering will once again bring together professionals, collectors, and enthusiasts to celebrate the intersection of art and publishing across diverse global communities.
Building on its mission to serve as a vital platform for artists, collectives, independent presses, booksellers, and publishers, PaperBack 2025 expands its international scope to welcome participants from across the globe, featuring publishers and creative practices from Egypt, China, United Arab Emirates, India, Lebanon, Qatar, Netherlands, Morocco, Singapore, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan—alongside publishers from Saudi Arabia.
The list of participating organizations includes Bin Atiah Studio, Cairo Art Book Fair, Can Can Press, Cave-Ayumi Gallery, Commerce, Copyright/Reserved, Frab’s Magazines & More, Further Reading, Grafis Nusantara, Handshake, Jordan, jordan Édition, Kayfa ta, Libri Finti Clandestini, Makan Press, Mousse Magazine and Publishing, ori.studio, Page Bureau / RELATED DEPARTMENT, Reliable Copy, shashasha, Soccochico, Sorry Press, Suburbia Projects, SWALIF Collective, te editions, Kaph Books, Rizo Masr, Misk Art Institute, Kyklàda.press, Rawdah Print, and Masala Noir[EH1] . This expanded global participation reinforces the Fair’s commitment to showcasing diverse artistic expressions and fostering cross-cultural dialogue through innovative publishing practices.
The second edition will also feature an engaging public program that includes workshops, discussions, performances, and special projects in collaboration with regional cultural organizations. Showcasing the talents of both emerging and established practitioners, the program seeks to engage the community and offer insights into innovative interdisciplinary publishing practices.
To learn more about PaperBack 2025 visit https://biennale.org.sa/en/fairs/paperback or follow @paperback_sa on Instagram.
About JAX District
The JAX District is situated in the heart of Diriyah, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, near the Saudi capital of Riyadh. Revitalized and restored in 2020, the JAX District is dedicated to the development of homegrown creative initiatives, art production, and cultural events. Its vast warehouses have been transformed into versatile, shared spaces for Saudi and international artists, galleries, and institutions to convene and create.
Today, the JAX District is home to some of Riyadh’s most exciting cultural events, including the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation; the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA), the first museum of its kind in the country; MDLBEAST XP Music Futures; the Noor Riyadh light festival; and Hia Hub, Saudi Arabia’s largest fashion and lifestyle conference.
