Season Highlights: The countdown is on to Riyadh Season 2023

Riyadh is about to get glammed up for one of its grandest occasions set to kickstart the fourth edition, a spectacular one reflected in the Big Time theme.

The mega season starts with a bang on 28 October with The Baddest Man on the Planet fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou. And the events, followed by Diriyah Season, will continue through January.

Since Riyadh Season launched in 2019, it has been one of the largest and most successful of the Saudi Seasons that take place across various cities in the Kingdom. As with every edition, this one will witness top international performers in sports, gaming, music, film, and much more taking the Gulf metropolis by storm.

In mid-September Saudi General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Al-Sheikh announced the launch of Riyadh Season 2023, with a special video revealing the opening ceremony organised by some of the world’s top event planners, underscoring the range of feats visitors can expect this year.

Want to know more about Riyadh? Check out our ultimate guide to Riyadh here.

The Highlights

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Riyadh Season will once again be divided into zones, each comprising its own theme and activities. This will be topped off by a series of live performances by international and local artists. Many of the events, some of which are still to be revealed, will take place at Boulevard Hall, a massive state-of-the-art multipurpose building. So far, the Wonder Garden zone has been announced, the world’s largest mobile amusement park with an area of half a million square metres. This new zone will be able to accommodate over 40,000 visitors and present a variety of events.

According to Al-Sheikh’s announcement, around 60 percent of Riyadh Season events will offer entirely “new experiences.” One is a rendition of Barbie Land that will retell the history of the doll and comes at just the right time – a few months after the film (which has enjoyed immense popularity in the Kingdom) was released worldwide.

There’s something for everyone this Riyadh Season.

Immersive experiences will once again be key, such as House of Hype and the DancingFountains –connecting the real world with virtual reality. There will also be Cats n’ Cups by Mocha Japan, a café catering to cat lovers. The preview video also revealed Blippi Wonders, an educational and entertainment experience for children, as well as Zero Latency, which enables visitors to interact with digital content in an everyday, real-life manner. And for those seeking a bit of thrill, Five Nights at Freddy will have attendees sitting on the edge of their seat.

Uncover all the Riyadh Season zones here.

MDLBEAST Soundstorm

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Other big events that fall under Riyadh Season include MDLBEAST’s Soundstorm, running from 14-16 December and lighting up Riyadh with a massive roundup of the best regional and international electronic music artists. Tickets are available now, so grab them at your earliest as this is one of the biggest events in the region, not to mention the world – one that music lovers wait the entire year for.

Last year, the festival entertained an over 700,000-strong crowd at its pop-up desert location.

Click here for the full confirmed line up.

Noor Riyadh

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The third edition of Noor Riyadh, the largest light art festival in the world taking place under the theme 'The Bright Side of the Desert Moon', will also illuminate the capital.

Running from 30 November-16 December, it will present an accompanying art exhibition that runs until 2 March 2024. The citywide spectacle promises once again to encompass Riyadh amid a glowing array of large-scale light artworks, found in the sky and on the ground, allowing the city to shine even brighter. The light artworks will again be found across five hubs in the Saudi capital, offering art and light for all.

Discover more about Noor Riyadh 2023 right here.

A Sports-Filled Fiesta

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It doesn’t stop there; the Big Time theme continues with some impressive sporting events. There will be two world tennis championships and a new WWE Championship, including the biggest wrestling event in the world, the Crown Jewel featuring John Cena. There’s also the Legend Museum for football enthusiasts, which will be home to over 30,000 rare items, as well as various interactive experiences.

These events will be enhanced by food and beverage experiences such as La Liga Café, merging gastronomy, football, entertainment, and sports at a new facility revolving around technology and innovation.

Al-Sheikh also stated how Riyadh Season, in partnership with Mike Tyson, will stage a boxing club featuring the first specialised striking gym in the region. This space will serve to educate and train all those interested in the sport.

Additionally, there’s the CR7 Experience, an exclusive museum created around Cristiano Ronaldo’s life story, presenting personal memorabilia, trophies, and interactive elements from his life experiences. The Portuguese football player now captains both Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Portuguese national team.

Concerts, Shopping & Gastronomy

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There will be over 33 shows and concerts by top local, regional, and international performers taking place at venues across the city. Additionally, the popular Boulevard World will return this year, 40 percent bigger than 2022, and comprising four new areas covering a million square metres.

The new zones will include a record-breaking area of shops and boutiques spanning more than 1,180 shops and 120 restaurants and cafés, as well as venues for shows and concerts. This year also sees over 100 international food trucks from London, Tokyo, and New York.

Bonus Details

What’s more, Riyadh Season will present the world’s largest treasure hunt, with a SAR 6m or $1.5m award being offered – yes, that’s right! Details remain on this last bit, but with our imaginations already greatly peaked, the sky clearly has no limit for what promises to be the most spectacular Riyadh Season yet.