Riyadh Season 2025 Kicks Off with 'Big Time' Spectacle and Global Collaborations

Grand Opening Ignites Riyadh

Riyadh Season 2025, Saudi Arabia's premier cultural and entertainment festival, officially launched on Friday, October 10, 2025, marking its sixth and most ambitious edition to date. Under the theme 'Big Time,' the festival commenced with a spectacular opening parade that transformed the capital into a vibrant hub of celebration. The parade, held between Kingdom Arena and Boulevard World, featured international and local performers, elaborate floats, and giant balloons from Macy's New York, making their debut outside the United States. The event was broadcast live across multiple television channels, drawing significant public turnout.

The General Entertainment Authority (GEA), chaired by Turki Alalshikh, is the driving force behind the season, which is set to run until March 2026. Alalshikh emphasized that this edition represents a significant leap forward for the Kingdom's entertainment industry, reinforcing Riyadh's position as a global destination for tourism, culture, and sports, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

Expansive Zones and Diverse Attractions

Riyadh Season 2025 boasts an impressive lineup of 11 major entertainment zones, each offering unique experiences designed to cater to a wide array of interests. These zones include:

• Boulevard City: The heart of the season, featuring concerts, shows, dining, theaters, and new experiences, including 20 Gulf, Arab, and international concerts, 80 restaurants, and 14 theatrical performances.
• Boulevard World: Expanded with 13 global zones, introducing new areas inspired by Indonesia, Korea, and Kuwait, alongside numerous rides, markets, and diverse cuisines.
• Beast Land: A new attraction developed in collaboration with global influencer MrBeast, offering over 40 shops and restaurants, 15 motion games, and 12 innovative entertainment experiences.
• ANB Arena: Hosting world-class sports and boxing events.
• Via Riyadh: A luxury destination featuring designer brands, fine dining, and the 'Ana Arabia' cultural celebration.
• Suwaidi Park: A free zone showcasing 13 cultures through traditional food, music, folk dances, and handicrafts.

Other notable zones include Kingdom Arena, Boulevard Flowers, and Aroya Cruises, the first Arabian cruise line experience.

World-Class Events and International Collaborations

The festival is set to host an extensive program of 15 world championships and 34 exhibitions and festivals. Key sporting events include:

• The 6 Kings Slam tennis tournament (October 15-18, 2025), featuring top ATP players like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner.
• Major boxing matches such as David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde (November 22, 2025) and Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso Romero (December 27, 2025).
• The WWE Royal Rumble (January 31, 2026), marking its debut outside North America.
• The Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1 (February 9-14, 2026) and a Snooker Championship (November 19-21, 2025).

Culturally, the season will feature the inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival, bringing together over 50 comedians including Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Aziz Ansari, and Russell Peters. The festival also includes the prestigious Joy Awards and the Jewelry Salon exhibition. International partnerships, such as the collaboration with Matchroom Sport for boxing, darts, and snooker events, underscore the season's global appeal.

Economic Impact and Vision for the Future

Riyadh Season has grown significantly since its inception in 2019, with the previous edition attracting over 20 million visitors from 135 countries. The estimated brand value of Riyadh Season has reached $3.2 billion (SAR12 billion), highlighting its substantial economic contribution. The festival actively empowers national talent and strengthens the private sector, with 95% of the 2,100 participating companies being local and over 4,200 contracts signed, fostering local economic growth. This year's expanded program and international collaborations are set to further solidify Riyadh's status as a leading global entertainment and tourism destination.