Saudi Arabia is stepping up efforts to attract international visitors through a year-round calendar of sports, cultural and entertainment events, with promotional campaigns focused on European, Indian and Chinese markets. The push forms part of the National Tourism Strategy, which targets 150 million visits by 2030.
Major activities in 2026 are concentrated in الرياض, جدة and العلا, offering a mix of concerts, exhibitions, sporting competitions, film, fashion and heritage programming. Headline events for the year include Formula E, the Esports World Cup, The Saudi Cup, MDLBEAST, Noor Riyadh and the Historic Jeddah Festival.
موسم الرياض, which typically runs from October through March, continues to anchor the capital's offering with concerts, sporting events, exhibitions and attractions. موسم الدرعية is scheduled through March 2026 at At-Turaif and surrounding venues in الدرعية, while the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale opened in January 2026 in the JAX District.
The Aseer region is also expanding its 2026 program, featuring the Husaak Adventure Center, the Sound of Abha Festival, along with concerts, cultural and artistic events, and sporting activities.
For residents and expats, the growing events calendar means more leisure options close to home throughout the year, alongside wider economic benefits as tourism becomes a larger part of the national economy. Saudi Living advises checking official channels for ticketing, timings and visa details, as these can change.
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