Plan your trip
Saudi Arabia events calendar 2026–2027
The dates that shape a Saudi trip this season - festivals worth planning around, and holidays that fill hotels and flights.
Wajahat Mahmood from Perth, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0Events at a glance
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| When | Event | Where | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 2026 – late Dec 2026 | Riyadh Season 2026 | Riyadh | About 10 weeks of concerts, shows, boxing and pop-up zones such as Boulevard World. Hotels in Riyadh fill on event weekends. Riyadh tickets & tours via Klook |
| 23–31 Oct 2026 | AlUla Wellness Festival | AlUla | Yoga, movement and wellness experiences in AlUla’s canyons as the season opens. |
| 6–15 Nov 2026 | AlUla Skies Festival | AlUla | Sunrise hot-air balloon flights, stargazing and night shows. Read AlUla in November. |
| 26 Nov – 12 Dec 2026 | Ancient Kingdoms Festival | AlUla | Heritage tours, talks and events around AlUla’s ancient sites. |
| 3–4 Dec 2026 | MDLBEAST Soundstorm 26 | Banban, Riyadh | The region’s biggest music festival, on a desert site north of the city. Plan transport home in advance. |
| 17 Dec 2026 – 9 Jan 2027 | Winter at Tantora | AlUla | AlUla’s winter festival: concerts, food and heritage events in the Old Town. Peak demand for Hegra and hotels. AlUla experiences via Klook |
| 13–20 Jan 2027 | Ultra Gobi AlUla | AlUla | A multi-day endurance race through AlUla’s valleys. |
| 15 Jan – 6 Feb 2027 | AlUla Arts Festival | AlUla | Contemporary art across AlJadidah Arts District, the Oasis and beyond. Read AlUla in January. |
| ~8 Feb – ~9 Mar 2027 | Ramadan | Nationwide | Daytime is quiet; evenings come alive. Read our Ramadan 2027 guide. |
| 22 Feb 2027 | Founding Day | Nationwide | Public holiday with heritage events, especially in Diriyah. Expect busy weekends. |
| ~9 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr | Nationwide | Several days of holiday, fireworks and family outings. Domestic flights and hotels get busy and pricier. |
| 19–21 Mar 2027 | Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (F1) | Jeddah Corniche Circuit | A night race on the Corniche. Book Jeddah hotels early. Jeddah tours & tickets via Klook |
| ~16 May 2027 | Hajj and Eid al-Adha | Makkah / nationwide | Makkah is closed to non-pilgrims and flights into Jeddah and Madinah are very busy. Tourist visas do not allow Hajj. |
| 23 Sep 2027 | Saudi National Day | Nationwide | Public holiday, green flags, fireworks and airshows. |
| Late 2027 | Red Sea International Film Festival | Jeddah | The 2026 edition was moved to late 2027. Dates to be announced. |
Dates marked ~ follow the Islamic lunar calendar and are confirmed by moon sighting, so they can move by a day. Check official event sites before you book.
How events affect your trip
- Book early for December–January. Riyadh Season, Soundstorm and Winter at Tantora overlap with the best weather and Western holidays. Use the Hegra ticket planner to see how early to book.
- Eid and Founding Day bring domestic crowds and higher hotel prices.
- Ramadan is a rewarding time to visit if you plan around daytime closures.
- Price your trip with the trip cost calculator.
Compare flights for your dates via Aviasales
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Questions travellers ask
When is Riyadh Season 2026?
Riyadh Season 2026 opens on 21 October 2026 and runs for about 10 weeks.
When is the Saudi Grand Prix 2027?
19–21 March 2027 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
When is Winter at Tantora 2026?
17 December 2026 to 9 January 2027 in AlUla.
When is Ramadan 2027 in Saudi Arabia?
Expected from about 8 February to 9 March 2027, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 March. Exact dates depend on the moon sighting.