Saudi Arabia's landmark winter festival, Riyadh Season, officially returns for its seventh edition on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
Announced on the official Instagram page last night, the true highlight of the season’s opening weeks is set to belong to elite boxing, with Riyadh Season confirming one of the year’s most anticipated showdowns. Canelo Alvarez is returning to the ring, and returning to Riyadh Season.
Slated to be one of the most anticipated boxing events of the year and of Riyadh Season, the newly announced event; Mexico vs. The World will take place on Saturday, October 31, 2026, hosted at The Venue in Riyadh's Boulevard City. Expected to have a well curated and packed undercard, the main event of the night will be a blockbuster showdown. The main fight will feature four-division world champion and Mexican boxing royalty Saúl "Canelo" Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) squaring off against undefeated WBC Super Middleweight Champion Christian Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs).
Billing the card as 'Mexico vs. The World,' the evening will showcase a deep lineup of elite Mexican champions and world-class contenders testing their mettle against global opposition on the undercard.
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Initially slated for a September 15 date, the bout was rescheduled to Halloween night after a short delay in Alvarez’s preparation camp due to personal matters.
Now fully locked in, the matchup carries immense narrative weight. Canelo Alvarez enters the bout hungry for redemption following a hard-fought decision loss to Terence Crawford in late 2025. On the other side, the Montreal-based Cameroonian power-puncher Mbilli was elevated to full WBC champion status following Crawford's retirement in December 2025 and is eager to prove his top-tier dominance on the sport’s biggest stage.
And in even better news, tickets have officially dropped and are available to buy online via the WeBook platform.
Riyadh Season Returns
Launching under the returning theme "Big Time", the entertainment seasons has been once again spearheaded by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA). The upcoming 10-week season promises to transform the Saudi capital into an international hub for high-octane sports, world-class musical performances, theatre, and expansive family entertainment zones.
The 2026 Riyadh Season calendar will the return of global flagship destinations, including the immersive culture-hopping Boulevard World, the vibrant dining and entertainment central Boulevard City, and the family-favourite Wonder Garden. On the sporting front, Riyadh Season opens with the elite Six Kings Slam tennis showcase from October 21 to 24, and, beginning with WWE Crown Jewel on November 7.
Mexico v The World: Canelo v Mbili at The Venue, Boulevard City, Riyadh
From 7pm on Saturday, October 31, 2026
Ticket prices start from SAR 50 per person,
Buy your tickets here
@riyadhseason
