Athar Festival 2026 Expands Riyadh Program

Athar Festival is set to return to Riyadh on 24–25 November 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention, with an expanded program aimed at growing the Kingdom's creative industry. The 2026 edition is expected to gather more than 150 speakers and feature 80 brand activations.

This year's program is organized around four content streams: Future Forward, Screen & Influence, Strategic Creativity, and Decoding Saudi. Alongside the main festival, the Maheerah Programme runs from 23 to 25 November 2026, while the Future CMO Academy and the Athar Awards both return in 2026.

Changes to the Athar Awards

The 2026 Athar Awards introduce dedicated entry pathways for independent agencies and brands across nine campaign categories. A new points-based crediting system recognizes agencies, brands, and production partners, and determines the winners of Creative Team of the Year, Production House of the Year, and Brand of the Year. A new Best Sport Campaign category has also been added. Submissions for the awards closed on 4 September 2026.

For the community of marketers, agencies, creators, and brands across Riyadh and beyond, the expanded lineup offers a larger platform for networking, learning, and recognition within the Kingdom's fast-growing creative sector. The mix of talks, academy sessions, and awards reflects continued investment in local creative talent and industry development.

Exact ticket prices, registration fees, and pass details for the 2026 edition have not yet been confirmed. Attendance does not require any government e-service procedure.

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