The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Balad will host a musical extravaganza.

Saudi Arabia is turning up the volume. The Kingdom has welcomed international artists from around the world. Now, the first wave of artists for Balad Beast 2026 has been announced, and includes hip–hop heavyweights Playboi Carti and Destroy Lonely.

Balad Beast 2026 will run from Thursday, 29 January to Friday, 30 January and brings together dozens of artists. Old and new unite as the event takes place across four stages, including courtyards, Souq Square, and Roshn Square in a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hip-hop fans will be delighted to hear that there is a stage dedicated to the genre. Plus, it includes cool food stalls, art, and live music installations.

Playboi Carti, born Jordan Terrell Carter, rose from Atlanta’s SoundCloud underground before breaking into the mainstream with his 2017 self-titled mixtape, powered by the springy anthem “Magnolia” and “wokeuplikethis*” with Lil Uzi Vert. From there, Die Lit (2018) sharpened his minimalist, ad-lib heavy style on fan staples like “Shoota,” while Whole Lotta Red (2020) pushed his rage energy into cult-classic territory with tracks such as “Sky” and “Stop Breathing.” In March 2025, his long-delayed third album, Music, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with every track charting on the Hot 100.

Destroy Lonely (Atlanta rapper Bobby Wardell Sandimanie III) will also perform. He rose from SoundCloud cult status after fellow Balad Beast headliner Playboi Carti noticed him in late 2020. His breakthrough run kicked off with the mixtape No Stylist (2022) and its title track “NOSTYLIST,” before his debut album If Looks Could Kill (2023) cemented his place with the viral single “If Looks Could Kill” and fan favourites like “How You Feel?” and “NEVEREVER.” Streaming staples also include early mood-setter “Bane” and standout collabs like Ken Carson’s “Singapore.” In 2024, Love Lasts Forever marked a new peak, debuting top 10 on the Billboard 200 and hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Recent hits include “Off the Meter” with Playboi Carti.

How to get tickets

General Admission tickets are priced at SAR 299 for a single night and grant access to either Thursday or Friday’s exciting lineup of performances. For those looking to experience both nights of entertainment, a two-night General Admission pass is available for SAR 479.

For an elevated experience, VIB (Very Important Beats) tickets are available at SAR 1,109 per night, offering premium perks and access to exclusive areas. To enjoy the full two-night extravaganza in style, the VIB pass is priced at SAR 1,879. Tickets are now available at nofomo.com.

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GO: Visit https://nofomo.com for more information.