Riyadh Season 2026 opens Wednesday 21 October under the slogan Big Time
The seventh Riyadh Season opens on Wednesday 21 October 2026 for about ten weeks. Here are its zones and the events confirmed so far.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, has announced that Riyadh Season 2026 opens on Wednesday 21 October 2026. The seventh edition runs under the slogan "Big Time" and brings about ten weeks of sport, concerts, shows and family experiences across the capital.
| Dates | Opens Wednesday 21 October 2026, for about ten weeks |
|---|---|
| Venue | Several sites across Riyadh, led by Boulevard World and Boulevard City in Hittin |
| Tickets | Sold per event; tickets for the events announced so far are on webook.com |
| Good for | Families, sports fans, and anyone after concerts and live shows |
What has been announced
Alalshikh revealed the opening date in a teaser video on X that showed glimpses of the sports, entertainment and arts programme and closed on this year's slogan, "Big Time". The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) also carried the announcement.
According to the announcement, the season combines world-class boxing and wrestling, UFC bouts and the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament. It also promises concerts by Saudi, Arab and international artists, theatre and comedy shows, and programmes for children and families.
No closing date has been published yet, and neither have the detailed schedules for each zone or the concert line-up. The official Riyadh Season website and accounts remain the most reliable reference for any date.
The zones
The authority confirmed the return of several familiar zones, some with new content:
- Boulevard World: cultures and landmarks from many countries in one place, adding three new pavilions this year for the Netherlands, Portugal and Yemen, according to Gulf News and LIST magazine.
- Boulevard City: returns with new content, details still to come.
- Wonder Garden: rides and activities suited to families.
- The Groves and the Farmers' Market.
- The Ana Arabia exhibition at VIA Riyadh.
According to LIST magazine, the Netherlands pavilion brings Dutch-inspired scenery, cultural displays and interactive experiences; Portugal adds themed markets and classic Portuguese food; and the Yemen pavilion, called Bab Al Yemen, showcases traditional architecture, crafts and regional cuisine.
Further programmes are planned at other locations in the city. Opening dates and hours for each zone have not been published, and zones do not necessarily all open on the same day: last season, Boulevard World opened the day after the launch.
Confirmed dates in the first weeks
- Six Kings Slam tennis: Wednesday 21, Thursday 22 and Saturday 24 October 2026 at The Venue in Riyadh, with Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur and Learner Tien, who was named on 6 October to replace the injured defending champion Jannik Sinner.
- Canelo Álvarez vs Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight title: Saturday 31 October 2026 at The Venue, as announced by Alalshikh and reported by Arab News.
- WWE Crown Jewel: Saturday 7 November 2026 at Riyadh Season Stadium in the King Abdullah Financial District.
If you cannot attend, the Six Kings Slam streams live on Netflix worldwide, and Canelo vs Mbilli airs on DAZN pay-per-view.
Tips before you go
- Book the big events early on webook.com, the platform where tickets for the announced events have gone on sale.
- Check the opening date of the zone you plan to visit; do not assume it opens on launch day.
- For a family outing, compare zones before you buy: some are about walking, food and shows, others about rides and activities.
- Read the entry conditions on the booking page, including age limits for some events and prohibited items.
- Plan your trip home in advance on fight and concert nights that finish late.
Getting there
The largest zones sit in Hittin, in north-west Riyadh near Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Awwal Road, where Boulevard City and Boulevard World stand side by side. VIA Riyadh is in Al Hada, near the Diplomatic Quarter.
Book a ride in the Drovox Passenger app and you will see the fare before you confirm. On opening night, or whenever you know you will be heading home late, you can schedule the ride ahead so a Hero is on the way at the time you choose.
Follow the event's official account for any schedule updates, or visit the official site, riyadhseason.com.
