Riyadh is preparing to unveil its biggest entertainment season yet, with a parade on Friday marking the start of Riyadh Season 2025 — a festival organisers say will put the Saudi capital firmly on the global cultural map.
Turki Al Alshaikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, announced the programme at a press conference on Sunday, describing the sixth edition of the festival as a turning point for Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing entertainment sector.
“Riyadh Season 2025 will be a landmark in the history of entertainment in the region and the world,” Al Alshaikh said. “The Saudi capital is now the global stage for creativity and culture.”
This year’s season spans 11 entertainment zones and features partnerships with more than 2,100 companies, 95 percent of them Saudi. Organisers estimate its brand value at $3.2 billion.
Headline events include the first-ever WWE Royal Rumble outside North America, the launch of “Beast Land” with U.S. YouTube star MrBeast, and the Joy Forum — a gathering of global entertainment figures such as UFC president Dana White, basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal, NFL legend Tom Brady, and Bollywood actor Aamir Khan.
Boulevard World will return with themed districts for Kuwait, South Korea and Indonesia, alongside 1,600 shops and 350 restaurants. Other highlights include a vast flower park with 200 million blooms, a Red Sea luxury cruise, and an expanded Riyadh Zoo.
Sports, concerts, exhibitions and theatre will run throughout the season, culminating with the Joy Awards in early 2026.
Officials say the event will generate more than 25,000 direct jobs and over 100,000 indirect jobs, while supporting Saudi talent and community projects.
