Festivals and Events in Riyadh: 7 to Plan Around

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Before you book: Saudi Arabia is under a US State Department Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory tied to the Iran/Houthi regional conflict since February 2026, and the UK FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to Riyadh Province itself. Events below are worth planning around, but check travel.state.gov or gov.uk for the current guidance before you book flights or tickets. Timing a trip around one of these makes sense once conditions allow.

Riyadh’s event calendar has grown fast over the past few years, and several of these are worth timing a whole trip around. Here are 7 to know.

  1. Riyadh Season: the city’s flagship entertainment festival, running roughly October through May each cool season, with zones like Boulevard World and the Riyadh Winter Wonderland (free entry before 6pm). Dates shift year to year, so check the official schedule closer to your trip.
  2. Saudi Cup: the world’s richest horse race, roughly $35 million in purses, held at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack each February. The 2026 edition ran its 7th year on 13-14 February.
  3. King Abdulaziz Camel Festival: a heritage pageant, racing, and market near Rumah, about 120km northeast of the city, running roughly December into early January.
  4. Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale: held at the JAX District in Diriyah roughly every two years; the 3rd edition ran 30 January to 2 May 2026.
  5. Founding Day: 22 February, marking the First Saudi State’s founding in 1727, with public celebrations across the city.
  6. National Day: 23 September, celebrating the Kingdom’s 1932 unification, another city-wide public holiday.
  7. Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha: the two major Islamic holidays, timed to the lunar calendar so exact dates shift each year, marked by family gatherings, feasts, and a noticeably quieter, more festive city.

A couple of older events are worth flagging so you don’t plan around outdated information. Formula E has moved to Jeddah, it’s no longer a Riyadh event. The long-running Janadriyah heritage festival’s 2026 status isn’t confirmed at the time of writing, so don’t book around it without checking first. The Riyadh Book Fair also runs on inconsistent dates year to year, so verify before committing.

Book hotels early if your trip lines up with Riyadh Season or the Saudi Cup, since both tighten supply across the city. For the practical basics around any of these, see our main Riyadh guide and our travel tips guide .