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6 minutes readContents
- Riyadh season 2025–26
- Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF)
- XP Music Futures by MDLBEAST
- MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM
- Noor Riyadh — light art festival
- Diriyah season 2025
Experience Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s 2025–26 calendar is filled with cultural, entertainment, and music events that attract travelers from around the world.
Riyadh season 2025–26
- Dates: October 10, 2025, to March 2026
- Location: Riyadh
- Website: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/seasons/riyadh-season#
Riyadh Season is the Kingdom’s flagship mega-season — a six-month celebration of entertainment, sports, and culture across multiple zones, including BLVD City and BLVD World. The long event window makes it ideal for travelers who want flexibility, repeat trips, or extended stays.
With family-friendly attractions, global shows, concerts, and dining pop-ups, there’s always something new to experience. It’s a perfect reason to plan a trip to Riyadh and enjoy the city’s energetic atmosphere.
When visiting Riyadh in Season, explore hotel options across the city with ZenHotels for convenient access to different event zones.
Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF)
- Dates: December 4–13, 2025
- Location: Jeddah (Historic Jeddah)
- Website: https://redseafilmfest.com/en/
The Red Sea International Film Festival is one of the region’s most prestigious cultural events, bringing global premieres, international talent, and vibrant industry activity.
The 2025 lineup features a diverse mix of films, showcasing sports-driven narratives and underdog stories. These films highlight athletes’ journeys from humble beginnings to becoming world featherweight champions. Notable titles include “Noor,” “Saipan”, “Erupcja,” and the UK drama “Giant,” which opens the festival with a powerful athletic journey.
Photo by Yasser Mutwakil ياسر متوكل on Unsplash
This year’s program also includes special appearances and “In Conversation” sessions with notable actors and filmmakers, including Amir El-Masry, Lebleba, Yaqoub Alfarhan, and Academy Award-winning director Sean Baker, who leads the 2025 jury. These features make RSIFF not only a major industry event but also an unforgettable experience for film lovers, culture seekers, and visitors who want to explore cinema on a global stage.
Hotels in Jeddah fill quickly during the festival, making early booking essential for travelers planning to attend.
XP Music Futures by MDLBEAST
- Dates: December 4–6, 2025
- Location: Riyadh
- Website: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/riyadh/events/xp-music-futures-24
XP Music Futures is MENA’s leading music-industry conference — a hybrid of daytime panels, workshops, and networking, followed by nighttime music showcases. It attracts creators, industry professionals, and trend-seekers from across the region.
While the daytime program is designed for those working in the music world, visitors who are not in the industry can still enjoy the festival’s evening showcases, live performances, and cutting-edge sounds from emerging and established regional artists. The blend of creativity, culture, and nightlife makes it an exciting experience for anyone interested in discovering new music in Riyadh.
MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM
- Dates: December 11–13, 2025
- Location: Riyadh (Banban)
- Website: https://mdlbeast.com/events/soundstorm-25
While the XP Music Futures is about networking, then MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM is your ticket to an epic adventure! MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM is one of the region’s largest music festivals, drawing global headliners and fans from across the GCC. The 2025 lineup features major international artists, including Cardi B, Post Malone, Halsey, Pitbull, Swedish House Mafia, DJ Snake B2B Metro Boomin, Calvin Harris, Anyma, and Benson Boone, making it one of the most anticipated music events in the Middle East.
Photo by Nainoa Shizuru on Unsplash
Known for its high-energy atmosphere, SOUNDSTORM brings three days of nonstop performances across fourteen stages, immersive visual production, massive crowds, and a vibrant nightlife scene. Whether you’re traveling for a weekend of global music or planning a longer stay, staying in Riyadh offers easy access to the Banban festival site.
Noor Riyadh — light art festival
- Dates: November 20 to December 6, 2025
- Location: Riyadh
- Website: https://riyadhart.sa/en/noor-riyadh/noor-riyadh-venice-capsule-exhibition/
Noor Riyadh transforms the city into the world’s largest light art festival, holding 16 world records for its scale, ambition, and city-wide installations.
The 2025 program continues this momentum with new works previewed internationally, including pieces such as:
These installations, featured in the festival’s capsule Venice Architecture Biennale, offer an early look at the creativity shaping this year’s edition.
Photo by Hala AlGhanim on Unsplash
With nighttime trails, illuminated sculptures, large-scale projections, and interactive artworks across districts and landmarks, Noor Riyadh is ideal for families, art lovers, and urban explorers. Staying in Riyadh gives you easy access to installations spread across the city.
Diriyah season 2025
- Dates: From November 1, 2025
- Location: Diriyah
- Website: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/seasons/diriyah-season
Diriyah Season celebrates Saudi Arabia’s heritage through immersive cultural programming across the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif and surrounding districts, including JAX and Zallal. Expect storytelling, performances, art installations, and family-friendly activities.
Photo: Jimmy283 / Shutterstock.com
Perfect for culture travelers, families, and anyone interested in Saudi heritage, Diriyah Season offers a deep connection to the Kingdom’s legacy. Since Diriyah is close to Riyadh, staying in the city makes it easy to attend events throughout the season.
Jeddah’s unmissable event of the year
Jeddah hosts one of the region’s most celebrated cultural events, attracting travelers from across the world.
Photo by mohammed alorabi on Unsplash
Where to stay — hotels in Riyadh and Jeddah with ZenHotels
Major events attract travelers from across the region and beyond, so booking early ensures better availability and prices. ZenHotels makes it easy to compare stays across neighborhoods, budgets, and travel styles.
Hotels in Riyadh
Whether you want city-center convenience, modern business stays, or family-friendly hotels, ZenHotels offers a wide range of options across the capital.
Hotels in Jeddah
From seafront properties to urban hotels near Historic Jeddah, the city offers stays for both festival-goers and leisure travelers.
Plan your trip for Saudi Arabia’s 2025–26 event season
With a vibrant line-up of cultural, musical, and entertainment events, Saudi Arabia is set for an unforgettable 2025–26 season. Whether you’re drawn to Riyadh’s mega-festivals or Jeddah’s red-carpet cinema moments, the Kingdom offers experiences worth traveling for.
Secure your stay early and explore hotel options in Riyadh and Jeddah with ZenHotels — making it easy to plan your trip around the events you’re most excited to see.
