In true Saudi style, the year aims to be a record-breaker. We’re talking gigs, giga-projects and more.
2026 looks set to be a showstopper in Saudi Arabia, with hot hotels, spectacular sports and major megaprojects on the way. So, whether you’re visiting or living in Jeddah, Riyadh or beyond, there is something exciting on the horizon. Here’s looking at you, 2026.
AlUla
AlUla is Saudi Arabia’s open-air museum, where sandstone cliffs, ancient tombs and palm-filled oases set the stage for a year-round calendar of culture. Winter at Tantora brings concerts and haute dining to cool desert nights, while the AlUla Skies Festival floods the horizon with balloons, stargazing and aerial adventures. The AlUla Arts Festival turns the landscape into a gallery, and the AlUla Wellness Festival focuses on mindfulness, movement and restorative retreats. Ancient Kingdoms Festival then dives into the area’s rich heritage, connecting visitors with the stories of Dadan, Hegra and beyond.
GO: Visit www.experiencealula.com for more information.
Amaala
Located between Neom and the Red Sea, Amaala promises to be an all-year-round family wellness destination. Opening in 20926, Amaala is spread across three sites in Prince Mohammed bin Salman Natural Reserve and spans a whopping 4,155 square kilometres. It is no surprise that it draws its inspiration from the nearby Red Sea. So, we’re excited to hear that it will feature a marine life institute, a yacht club, 3,000 hotel rooms, residences, and state-of-the-art recreational facilities. Hotels, including Clinique La Prairie Health Resort, Equinox Resort Amaala, Four Seasons Resort Amaala at Triple Bay, Jayasom Wellness Resort, Nammos Resort AMAALA, Rosewood Amaala, and Six Senses Amaala, are expected to open soon.
GO: Visit www.redseaglobal.com for more information.
AquArabia Water Park
Qiddiya’s AquArabia Water Park will be the first water park in Saudi Arabia and the largest in the Middle East. It will span a massive 250,000 square metres and be home to 22 rides and attractions, four of which will be record-breakers. The rides include Junoon Drop, the world’s tallest water coaster; Speedy Jamezales, the tallest drop body slide; Slithereel, the longest water slide; and Jamal Joom, the longest mat racer. Aquarabia will also feature the first underwater adventure ride, with fully submersible cars. The dedicated watersports zone will offer rafting, kayaking, canyoneering, free solo climbing and cliff jumping, as well as the Kingdom’s first surf pool.
GO: Visit https://qiddiya.com for more information.
Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026
Art lovers, unite. We have some exciting news. The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026 will open to the public on 30 January 2026 with the title ‘In Interludes and Transitions.’ Now in its third edition, the Biennale will feature more than 70 artists and over 20 new commissions. The Biennale will be anchored at JAX, Diriyah’s creative district known for its industrial heritage, and will expand across selected venues and outdoor spaces. The aim is to immerse visitors in an experience that responds to the district’s urban fabric while celebrating Diriyah’s role in Saudi Arabia’s evolving cultural landscape.
GO: Visit https://biennale.org.sa for more information.
Downtown Design Riyadh
With the support of Saudi Arabia’s Architecture and Design Commission, Downtown Design Riyadh will return to JAX District for a second season from 3 to 6 February 2026, bringing together international icons, regional talent, and homegrown innovators for a four-day showcase unlike any other in the Kingdom. The exhibition space spills out onto JAX’s industrial facades, featuring installations, immersive experiences, and cutting-edge collaborations. While The Forum programme will feature a line-up of thought leaders discussing collectable design, cultural preservation through graphics, and large-scale excellence in Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing built environment.
GO: Visit www.downtowndesign.com for more information.
Eid
The dates for Eid in 2026 have not yet been confirmed. However, if the predictions are anything to go by, we are expecting it to fall around 19 or 20 March. Eid Al Fitr literally translates to ‘festival’ of breaking the fast, and marks the end of fasting during Ramadan. Eid Al Fitr is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, and falls on the tenth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Eid is a public holiday in Saudi Arabia, and it is celebrated by Muslims around the world with prayers, meals and gifts.
Esports World Cup
Gaming has officially gone global — and it’s no longer just a pastime. As esports continues to rise alongside traditional sports, the Esports World Cup returns for its latest edition, promising its biggest event yet. The Esports World Cup 2026 is set to be the largest competitive gaming event in history, with a record-breaking prize pool of over SAR 262 million (about $70 million). More than 2,000 players representing over 200 clubs will battle it out across 25 tournaments.
GO: Visit https://esportsworldcup.com for more information.
FACT Dining Awards
The FACT Dining Awards, the prestigious culinary recognition program celebrating excellence in the food and beverage industry, will return to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London and Riyadh in 2026. Voting for all four territories will officially launch in January, allowing you to support and celebrate your favourite dining venues across various categories. Since its inception, the FACT Dining Awards have been a hallmark of the region’s vibrant F&B industry, spotlighting the best restaurants, cafés, and culinary innovators.
GO: Visit https://diningawards.factmagazines.com for more information.
Hotel openings
Saudi Arabia is bursting with exciting hotel openings across its bustling cities, historical sights and new megaprojects. The Kingdom is welcoming big brands, from A-list favourites to sprawling resorts. So, if you’re planning to visit Diriyah, Neom, the Red Sea and beyond, there’s a hotel to suit your needs. Highlights include Four Seasons Jeddah, which will boast an impressive accommodation offering comprising 269 rooms and suites, along with 21 serviced apartments designed for both short- and long-term stays; the eagerly anticipated Raffles Jeddah and W Riyadh in KAFD.
Jeddah Season
Jeddah Season is one of Saudi Arabia’s signature entertainment events. This year’s line-up is a dazzling mix of music, culture, and exquisite experiences by the Red Sea, including Al-Balad Cultural Heritage Events, Global Music Festival Nights, and the renewal of Jeddah Shopping Festival.
GO: Follow @jed.calendar on Instagram for more information.
Megaprojects in Saudi Arabia
Thanks to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to put the country on the tourism map, the Kingdom is home to some of the region’s most impressive developments and Saudi Arabian megaprojects are creating blockbuster headlines. We’re talking about UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the world’s longest skyscraper, cities rising from the sand and ski resorts in the middle of the desert.
Music festivals in Saudi Arabia
Balad Beast 2026 will run from 29 to 30 January across four stages in Jeddah’s Al Balad. The region’s biggest music festival, MDLBeast Soundstorm 2026, is also expected to return in December, closing a year that will also feature concerts for the E-Sports World Cup and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Noor Riyadh 2026
If you love all things bright and beautiful, you’re going to love Noor Riyadh. The largest light art festival in the world will return to Riyadh for its sixth edition. Visitors will encounter installations at Qasr Al Hokm District, King Abdulaziz Historical Center, stc Metro Station, KAFD Metro Station, Al Faisaliah Tower, and JAX District. With over 60 artworks on display, prepare to be captivated by creativity — from large-scale public installations to mesmerising projections. In addition to these visual spectacles, Noor Riyadh offers a program of community engagement activities, including tours, talks, workshops, family activities, film screenings, and music events.
GO: Visit www.noorriyadh.sa for more information.
Red Sea International Film Festival
Following the resounding success of previous years, the Red Sea International Film Festival is returning for its sixth edition in 2026. Red Sea International Film Festival is committed to diversity and innovation in filmmaking. From the riveting Red Sea: Competition category, which celebrates boundary-pushing works of art, to the captivating Red Sea: Shorts Competition, dedicated to showcasing compelling short films under 60 minutes, there’s something for every film enthusiast. A-list stars have attended in previous years, including Adrien Brody, Sigourney Weaver and Will Smith.
GO: Visit https://redseafilmfest.com for more information.
Restaurants in Riyadh
Riyadh is bringing in new restaurants, ranging from casual to classy. Amazónico Riyadh and Pahli Hill will open in KAFD, Em Sherif Sea Café will set up shop in Leysan Valley, and Solitare Mall will welcome London’s ARACADE Food Hall, as well as popular Parisian concepts Liza and Perruche. The FACT award-winning Gaia is also expected to make its mark in the capital.
Riyadh Fashion Week
Riyadh Fashion Week is strutting into the capital of Saudi Arabia for its third edition. The event showcases emerging and established designers from around the world and puts the Kingdom’s fashion scene in the spotlight. Hosted by the Fashion Commission under the Ministry of Culture, Riyadh Fashion Week 2025 brings together style, innovation and creativity. Not long ago, the idea of a fashion week in the Kingdom would have been unthinkable. Today, the event is a powerful platform that unites diverse, forward-thinking creatives.
GO: Visit www.riyadhfashionweek.com for more information.
Riyadh Marathon
On your marks, get set, run. The Riyadh Marathon will be held in the capital on 31 January 2026 and includes four races: a 42-, 21-, 10-, and four-kilometre run. Cheer on the runners, and make the most of the fitness activities. The Marathon Village will be a hub for activities and food stalls. Tickets start from SAR 59.
GO: Visit https://suffix.events for more information.
Riyadh Season 2026
Riyadh Season, launched in 2019, is the largest festival of its kind in the Middle East. The event takes over the capital with A-list sports stars, celebrity chefs, and singing sensations, and is one of the cultural highlights in Saudi Arabia. Bringing together arts, entertainment, restaurants and family-friendly fun, it takes place each winter. Riyadh Season 2026 is expected to be bigger and bolder than ever before.
GO: Visit https://riyadhseason.com for more information.
Riyadh Sports Boulevard
Riyadh Sports Boulevard Project is an ambitious endeavour that promises a revolutionary shift in Riyadh’s landscape, blending elements of recreation, culture and a commitment to healthier living. Sports Boulevard is currently 40 per cent complete, which means over 83km of the venue is now open to visitors. This first phase marked the opening of five destinations along the boulevard, including Wadi Hanifah, the Promenade, the first phase of Sands Sports Park, a section at the intersection of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road and Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Awwal Road, and the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University internal loop.
GO: Visit https://sportsboulevard.sa for more information.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Saudi, start your engines. The Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is returning to Jeddah from 17 to 19 April 2026. We are buzzing with excitement, as this is motorsport’s sixth visit to the world’s fastest and longest street circuit, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Tickets are now on sale, starting at SAR 468, but the concerts have not yet been announced.
GO: Visit www.saudiarabiangp.com for more information.
Sharaan Nature Reserve
Unlike many of the other Saudi Arabia megaprojects, Sharaan Nature Reserve is nature-focused. Spanning a rocky 925 square kilometres, the project aims to re-establish plants and wildlife in the area around AlUla. Thanks to the recent work, Arabian wolves and red foxes have already been spotted on the land. Sharaan Nature Reserve will also be home to a luxury retreat, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, which will be the world’s first resort hidden within rocks.
Sneaker Con
Do you know your Air Jordans from your Yeezys? Well, we have some exciting news. Sneaker Con takes place around the world and is now returning to Riyadh. Running from 26 to 28 February 2026 at BLVD City. Sneaker Con in Riyadh will combine entertainment, culture, and sporting events to create the region’s ultimate sneaker trading marketplace. More than 150 vendors from the United States, the Middle East, and beyond will participate. Shoppers can expect collectables, rare finds, and new releases. Visitors will also have the opportunity to buy, sell, and trade at the Trading Pit.
GO: Visit https://sneakercon.com for more information.
The Red Sea
The Red Sea Project is epic in scale, as it is one of the most ambitious regenerative tourism projects the world has ever seen. Located in Tabuk province, it is between the cities of Umluj and Al Wakh. The Saudi Arabian megaproject covers 28,000 kilometres of islands, beaches, deserts, mountains, and even volcanoes, and aims to be a leading destination for eco-luxury. With The Red Sea International Airport in the works, hotels are flocking to The Red Sea Project with Faena Red Sea Resort, Grand Hyatt The Red Sea and Miraval The Red Sea all expected to open in 2026.
GO: Visit www.redseaglobal.com for more information.
TopGolf
The world’s fastest-growing entertainment concept will arrive in the Kingdom with the opening of three Topgolf facilities in Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province. Founded in the United Kingdom before taking the US by storm, Topgolf will offer a casual, fun sporting experience that blends American dining, live music, and a computer-game-inspired driving range. The closer you get the ball to the centre or ‘bullseye’ and the further the distance, the more points earned – it’s as simple as that!
GO: Visit www.golfsaudi.com for more information.
Trojena
Trojena will be one of the most impressive Saudi Arabian megaprojects. It is a destination that blends natural and developed landscapes and will also host the Asian Winter Games 2029. Located 50km from the Gulf of Aqaba, Trojena will offer year-round outdoor skiing and adventure sports. The new supercity will house six distinctive districts centred around tailored experiences that blend real and virtual architectural and engineering innovations. Highlights include an artificial freshwater lake and ‘The Vault’, a folded village fusing technology, entertainment and hospitality. Ennismore Hotels is already on board, opening a 25hours and Morgans Original hotel.
Tuwaiq Sculpture Festival
Tuwaiq Sculpture is part of Riyadh Art and turns the city into a gallery without walls. The festival brings together artists from within the country and around the world. The event makes art accessible, both through its open submissions and through how it showcases art. The process is in two parts: the first half lets the public watch the production process, and the second half exhibits the finished artwork. The programme celebrates sculpture as a tool for cultural dialogue and aims to reflect – and shape – Riyadh’s ever-evolving urban identity.
GO: Visit https://riyadhart.sa for more information.
