What’s Riyadh Season All About?
Think of Riyadh Season like Saudi Arabia’s answer to a giant Coachella or a year-long World’s Fair – but in the middle of the desert. It’s an annual festival (running each winter) that turns Riyadh into an entertainment playground, with concerts, sports, cultural fairs and more. The idea is to spice up life in the capital and lure international tourists. In fact, organizers proudly noted that 13 million people visited last year’s Riyadh Season in just ten weeks[1]. There are dozens of “zones” and stages spread over huge areas – like Boulevard City (for concerts and family fun) and Boulevard World (a cultural bazaar with country-themed pavilions) – plus everything from “Wonder Gardens” to new theme parks. (One new zone even features full-size Boeing 777 planes repurposed as restaurants and attractions[2]!) Riyadh Season first launched in 2019 as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to move beyond oil, and it’s officially billed as one of the region’s biggest cultural festivals[3].
Saudi officials say this is all about diversifying the economy and “modernizing” the nation. Chairman Turki Alalshikh of the General Entertainment Authority puts it plainly: Riyadh is experiencing “an unprecedented entertainment movement”[4], with a steady stream of events each week. The goal is to make Riyadh a global hub for fun, culture and sports[5][6].
U.S. Stars Take the Stage
You’ll find a surprising number of American and Western acts headlining Riyadh Season events. Saudi organizers have rolled out the red carpet for U.S. entertainers and brands. For example, WWE wrestling is a big feature: the Royal Rumble (a marquee WWE pay-per-view) is confirmed for Jan 2026 in Riyadh, and WWE announced that WrestleMania will even come to Saudi Arabia in 2027 – the first time that landmark event ever leaves North America[7]. (WWE has a $1 billion deal with Saudi Arabia to put on shows over the next decade, so expect more wrestling spectacles.)
Comedy is another area where American stars shine. In 2025 Riyadh will host the world’s largest comedy festival, with over 50 global comedians performing[8]. The lineup includes household names like Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Aziz Ansari, Chris Tucker, Russell Peters (pictured below performing at Riyadh) and more[8][9]. Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon Prime comedians are all booked to make Saudis (and expats) laugh live on stage.
Netflix is also on board in a big way. Saudi organizers recently sold the streaming rights to their tennis event (“Six Kings Slam”) to Netflix[10]. That exhibition tournament – featuring tennis greats like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – takes place under the Riyadh Season banner, and Netflix will broadcast it worldwide. It’s part of Riyadh Season’s push to be a global sports-and-entertainment showcase[11]. (Netflix is expanding into live sports; alongside WWE it even live-streamed a big boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.)
Pop and hip-hop concerts round out the entertainment lineup. Big American R&B/hip-hop names have performed in recent opening ceremonies: for instance, Missy Elliott, Ciara and Busta Rhymes were part of the 2024 season-opening concert (which also featured a boxing bout)[12]. U.S. pop star Post Malone played a sold-out show in Riyadh in Nov 2023[13]. And world-famous singers like Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez have also appeared at Saudi events in recent years. In short, Riyadh Season isn’t missing any U.S. headliners!
Quick Facts: Major U.S. Acts/Events at Riyadh Season
- Wrestling: WWE’s Royal Rumble (Jan 2026) and a planned WrestleMania (2027) – first-ever outside North America[7].
- Comics: Riyadh Comedy Festival (Sept–Oct 2025) with Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Aziz Ansari, Chris Tucker, Russell Peters, Bill Burr and 50+ global comics[8].
- Streaming/Sports: Netflix broadcasts the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition (Oct 2025) with Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sinner[10].
- Concerts: American music stars and DJs (e.g. Post Malone in 2023[13]; Missy Elliott, Ciara, Busta Rhymes in 2024[12]) and many more.
- Boxing: Big bouts like Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk (“Ring of Fire”, May 2024)[14]; Canelo Alvarez–Terence Crawford (Sept 2025).
- Soccer: Exhibition matches with international stars (e.g. Messi vs Ronaldo showdowns during Riyadh Season[15]).
Sports Galore – From Boxing to eSports
Sports are front and center at Riyadh Season. In addition to WrestleMania, the lineup has included top-tier boxing (Fury–Usyk, Joshua–Ngannou) and mixed martial arts (PFL vs Bellator) matches[16][17]. Huge tennis exhibitions have been hosted (the first Six Kings Slam in 2024 drew Djokovic, Nadal, etc[18]). There’s also a Riyadh Season Cup soccer tournament: in Jan–Feb 2024 Riyadh invited European clubs Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Miami to play alongside Saudi giants Al Hilal and Al Nassr, bringing Messi and Ronaldo to the same pitch in Saudi for what fans dubbed “The Last Dance”[19]. Even gaming is part of the action: Riyadh Season overlapped with the city hosting a $70 million Esports World Cup (one of the world’s richest esports tournaments) in 2023[4].
It’s hard to overstate the scale: organizers say the latest Riyadh Season has 14 zones, 11 world championship sports events, 10 exhibitions and more[1]. Literally every week there’s something new – whether it’s a football match, a boxing card, a UFC fight or a whole festival of games. All the big names and global stars can apparently be found under the Riyadh sky, which keeps fans from all over the world talking.
Culture, Food and Surprises
It’s not just about Western pop culture – Riyadh Season also offers a slice of Saudi and global traditions. For example, Boulevard World is a sprawling fairground of international pavilions. Last year it had a huge replica of Egypt’s pyramids and sphinx, and in 2024 it expanded to include Turkey, Iran, a French Alps ski zone (Courchevel!), Africa and more[20]. There’s a giant “Harry Potter” theme park zone opening, a new fashion runway zone by designer Elie Saab, and art and heritage festivals showcasing local crafts[21][22].
Foodies and shoppers get in on it too: dozens of restaurants and markets pop up everywhere. For the food scene, there are street food parks and global cuisine booths. (One fun zone even turned real airplanes into restaurants and thrill rides[2]!) And filmmakers are part of the party: Saudi Arabia hosts the “Joy Awards,” its own TV/film gala, during Riyadh Season, celebrating Arabic movies and music.
All told, the atmosphere is that of a non-stop party. Families dance to live music, skaters race, and VR exhibits and art shows run at night under laser-lit skies. Local shoppers love the variety of pop-up markets and big sales during the season. As one Saudi festivalgoer told reporters, this feels like a “coming-out party” for the young generation of Saudi citizens, giving them a chance to enjoy concerts and events they used to miss[23].
The Other Side: Questions and Criticism
Of course, not everyone is cheering. Human rights groups and activists warn that all this glitz can distract from Saudi Arabia’s rights record. They argue the kingdom is using Riyadh Season as a PR boost or “sportswashing” – polishing its image on the world stage while critics at home are silenced. For example, Human Rights Watch has urged performers at Saudi festivals to “speak up or not attend” events that are effectively sponsored by the government, saying the regime aims to “whitewash” its record[24]. Reports note that at the same time Riyadh is booking big shows, critics and activists remain jailed or worse, and peaceful dissent is still met with harsh punishments[24][25]. One LGBTQ activist told The Guardian that Saudi Arabia knows the easiest way to win hearts is through sports and stars, and cautioned fighters like Fury and Usyk that they are being asked to look past the country’s crackdown on people like him[26][27].
At the same time, supporters say it’s unfair to lump the whole country in. Many Saudis – especially the youth – genuinely enjoy the new freedoms: going to concerts, seeing comedy, and welcoming their friends from abroad. They point out that the kingdom abolished the driving ban for women and is slowly opening up (cinemas only returned in 2018, but now there are dozens of movie theaters across Riyadh). And economically, officials argue Riyadh Season creates jobs and tourism revenue. Some local voices frame it as a tough but necessary trade-off: yes, the social and political opening is matched by a crackdown on dissent[28][29], but they say the broader changes in society still mark a big shift after decades of conservatism.
In plain terms: Riyadh Season is meant to show “the new Saudi Arabia” to the world – a country that can throw a multi-million-dollar music festival and host world-class sports – while the critics remind us that the “old Saudi Arabia” still hasn’t fully gone away. Whether you view it as an exciting cultural breakthrough or a PR showcase (or both), it’s certainly one of the biggest entertainment pushes the region has ever seen.
Sources: News coverage and official reports on Riyadh Season and Vision 2030[3][1][7][8][10][24][26].
[1] [2] [5] [22] Riyadh Season visitors surge to record 13 million in 10 weeks
[3] [20] [21] Riyadh Season highlights include Harry Potter theme park and Martin Lawrence comedy show | The National
https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/2024/08/17/riyadh-season-highlights/
[4] [6] General Entertainment Authority | Turki Alalshikh Unveils Highlights of Riyadh Season’s Upcoming Edition, Featuring Global, Saudi, Gulf, and Syrian Events
https://www.gea.gov.sa/en/media-center/news/highlights-riyadh-season/
[7] WWE's Wrestlemania heading to Saudi Arabia in '27 | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/sports/wwes-wrestlemania-heading-saudi-arabia-27--flm-2025-09-12/
[8] [9] Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Russell Peters to join world’s biggest comedy festival in Saudi Arabia | World News - Times of India
[10] [11] Netflix obtains global rights to stream Riyadh Season’s Six Kings Slam
https://sportsmintmedia.com/netflix-secures-global-rights-to-stream-riyadh-seasons-six-kings-slam/
[12] Are you ready for Riyadh Season 2024? The new Saudi ... - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/erlasersandsfx/videos/riyadh-season-2024-opening-ceremony/1334478037919456/
[13] [14] [16] [17] [18] [19] Riyadh Season - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riyadh_Season
[15] Messi, Ronaldo start in Riyadh friendly | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/messi-ronaldo-start-riyadh-friendly-2023-01-19/
[23] [28] [29] Social loosening and political tightening sweep Saudi Arabia - Los Angeles Times
[24] [25] Performers Should Speak Up or Not Attend Saudi Music Festival | Human Rights Watch
https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/12/15/performers-should-speak-or-not-attend-saudi-music-festival
[26] [27] ‘Boxers must know the morality of supporting Saudi’ – gay exile Wajeeh Lion | Boxing | The Guardian