Athar Festival 2026 Expands Program in Riyadh

Athar Festival is expanding its 2026 program to further support Saudi Arabia's creative industries, with the event set to take place on 24–25 November 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention in Riyadh. The gathering brings together professionals from the marketing, communications, and creative sectors.

The 2026 edition features more than 200 speakers across four content streams: Future Forward, Screen & Influence, Strategic Creativity, and Decoding Saudi. These sessions cover trends shaping the region's creative landscape and the future of marketing.

Several established programs are returning this year, including the Maheerah Programme, the Future CMO Academy, the Athar Awards, panel discussions, and campaign showcases. The Maheerah Programme is dedicated to women working in Saudi Arabia's creative marketing and communications industry. Applications opened on 30 June and close on 24 September 2026, with selected participants announced in October.

The Athar Awards run as a separate program and require separate tickets. Attendees can register and view the full schedule through the official Athar Festival website. Current 2026 ticket prices in Saudi Riyal were not available at the time of publishing.

Why it matters

For the growing community of creative and communications professionals across Riyadh and the wider Kingdom, the festival offers a place to learn, connect, and showcase work. The dedicated women's program and leadership academy reflect the sector's expansion as part of ongoing efforts to build local talent in Saudi Arabia's creative economy.

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