The festival brings together blockbuster exhibitions, thrill-seeking experiences and historical trails.
If you want to go on a desert adventure, look no further than AlUla in Saudi Arabia. The historical site has just revealed its line-up for AlUla Moments 2025-26, and it is packed with events spanning culture, heritage, sports, art and entertainment.
AlUla Moments 2025-26 marks the return of the AlUla Arts Festival, AlUla Desert Polo, the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, Azimuth, and Winter at Tantora.
AlUla has direct flights from Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh. Airlines currently flying to AlUla include Gulf Air, flydubai, flynas, Qatar Airways and Saudia.
Here are the highlights from AlUla Moments 2025-26.
Azimuth
Kicking off the season, AZIMUTH returns over the Saudi National Day weekend in September, promising a weekend of sound, light, and celebration. Set against the ancient backdrop of AlUla’s desert terrain, the festival unites regional and international music talent for a multi-sensory experience of epic proportions. Expect immersive stage design, cutting-edge visuals, and a carefully curated lineup that celebrates cultural exchange and sonic innovation. More than just a music festival, AZIMUTH sets the tone for a season that bridges heritage with the future.
AlUla Wellness Festival
October shifts focus to wellbeing with the return of the AlUla Wellness Festival, offering a holistic journey of self-discovery, movement, and transformation. Alongside tranquil sunrise yoga, guided meditations, sound baths, and performances in the stillness of the desert, this year’s edition introduces a bold new programme of high-energy fitness challenges. Athletes and amateurs alike are invited to test their limits with the AlUla Half Marathon Road Race, 24-Hour Endurance Race, Duathlon, and the inaugural Ashar Valley Triathlon. The festival also sees the return of Les Mills Live sessions, bringing the global fitness brand’s cult energy to the heart of the desert.
Ancient Kingdoms Festival
In November, AlUla’s ancient wonders take centre stage with the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, a deep dive into the legacy of the Incense Road and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra. Under the banner of ‘Journey Through Time’, visitors can explore the past through day-to-night experiences including Hegra After Dark, The Incense Road Experience, the spectacular Hegra Drone Show: Stories from the Sky, Ikmah After Dark, and the ethereal Hegra Candlelit Classics, where internationally renowned musicians perform beneath the stars.
Winter at Tantora
Come December, Winter at Tantora returns to AlUla’s lush oasis, infusing the historic setting with gastronomy, music, and artisan craft. Opening with a tribute to the Saudi Year of Handicrafts and a star-studded performance by Ahlam, the festival pays homage to local traditions reimagined through a contemporary lens. Experiences include the Shorofat Tantora, Old Town Culinary Voyage, and Tantora Old Town Nights, alongside the return of exclusive pop-ups from Ducasse and Annabel’s, offering world-class dining under AlUla’s winter skies.
AlUla Desert Polo
The new year brings a showcase of elite sporting events. In January, the high-octane AlUla Desert Polo returns to its purpose-built arena, attracting royalty and elite players to compete on sand amidst the majestic backdrop of AlUla’s rock formations. Later that month, the AlUla Tour, a UCI Asia Tour cycling event, draws top international cyclists for a multi-stage race through one of the region’s most dramatic settings. In February, the endurance spotlight shines on AlFursan Endurance AlUla, one of the sport’s most prestigious equestrian events, alongside the AlUla Trail Race, challenging athletes across some of Saudi Arabia’s most scenic and technically demanding terrain.
AlUla Arts Festival
January also sees the return of the AlUla Arts Festival, a vibrant celebration of artistic expression that transforms the region into a living canvas. The programme includes the fourth edition of Desert X AlUla, an internationally acclaimed outdoor exhibition placing large-scale contemporary works in dialogue with the desert landscape. For 2026, AlUla’s contemporary art museum partners with the Centre Pompidou to present a major new exhibition, further strengthening the region’s ties with the global art world. Meanwhile, AlJadidah Arts District comes alive with performances, installations, and a curated showcase of AlUla-inspired design.
Whether you’re seeking spiritual stillness, artistic inspiration, adrenaline-filled adventure, or a symphony beneath the stars, AlUla Moments 2025–2026 is a transformative journey through time, creativity, and terrain. This is not just a calendar of events.
AlUla Moments 2022 is bringing it.
GO: Visit www.experiencealula.com for more information.