Miguel Blanco-Carrasco builds and leads cultural institutions, major events and destinations at national and international scale. Over two decades, he has founded and delivered flagship cultural programmes across the GCC and internationally, most recently as founding Executive Director of Noor Riyadh, the world’s largest light art festival, which he grew across four editions to 9 million visitors, 16 Guinness World Records and more than 300 commissioned artworks across 40 locations, with full P&L responsibility for a workforce of over 2,000 and a zero-incident safety record.

He is currently an independent advisor to cultural institutions and destination developers across the GCC, including Interim Chief Operating Officer at Aimes, Senior Advisor - International Ventures at Art Dubai Group and Senior Advisor to Riyadh Art and Riyadh Life at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

From 2019 to 2023, Miguel was the founding Executive Director of Noor Riyadh, transforming it from concept into the world’s largest light art festival. Prior to this, he was Project Director for the inaugural Jeddah Season, delivering Obhur, one of its largest districts, and served as Chief Operating Officer at MiSK Art Institute, advancing professional development in the arts through support, expertise, and education.

Before his tenure in Saudi Arabia, Miguel was the founding Director of Cultural Diplomacy Projects at Qatar Museums, where he launched and led the Years of Culture bilateral exchange programme across Japan, the United Kingdom and Brazil, setting a global benchmark for cultural diplomacy. The programme continues today.

His work sits at the intersection of cultural vision, audience engagement, commercial performance and public-realm placemaking. He has developed more than 50 institutional partnerships, including Tate, the V&A, the British Museum and the Mori Art Museum, and secured corporate sponsorships with organisations including Shell, Vodafone and QatarGas.

A qualified lawyer, he holds an MSc in International Relations from the University of London and an LLB from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and brings legal and governance depth to boards, contracts and government relations.