With the arrival of cooler air, the Kingdom’s cultural calendar has opened up in full: From AlUla Arts Festival to UNESCO-listed Hegra night-time cultural experiences, the launch of the official Saudi Winter programme marks a new chapter in this seasonal shift – one that goes well beyond the weather. Unveiled earlier last year, the initiative builds on five years of steady growth in visitor numbers and tourism spending, with 150 million travellers expected by 2030. Below, we spotlight standout events taking place across the Kingdom this winter – from landmark exhibition sales such as Origins II held in Diriyah to Hegra After Dark revealing the splendour of the Nabataeans.
Origins II – Riyadh, Diriyah
Building on the success of the Origins auction in February 2025, Origins II continues Sotheby's journey into the Kingdom with a landmark event at the end of January 2026, presenting masterpieces by significant Saudi artists from the past century alongside internationally recognised figures such as Pablo Picasso. The auction coincides with the opening of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and sits just ahead of Art Basel Doha’s inaugural Middle Eastern edition in February. Prior to the live auction, all Origins II works will be presented in a public exhibition at Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace, creating a week-long celebration of art and culture set within one of the Kingdom’s most historically significant settings.
In total, more than 70 works form an impressive display of Modern and Contemporary Art, complemented by objects from Ancient Sculpture, 20th-century Design, Prints, and works representing Latin American and South Asian traditions. The ensemble reflects the sophisticated appetite of the Saudi art market and its growing engagement with the international scene.
AlUla Arts Festival – AlUla
Held each year in the ancient sands of AlUla, AlUla Arts Festival is one of Saudi Arabia’s most enriching winter events. The 2026 edition (16Jan – 14Feb 2026) will retrace the cultural and archaeological history of the region through concerts, storytelling, heritage walks, and open-air dining. Celebrating creativity in all its forms, the festival connects art with innovation in a festive atmosphere set against AlUla’s striking landscapes.
Highlights include the Arduna contemporary art exhibition, Madrasat Addeera’s workshops of traditional crafts and a showcase of innovation at Design Space AlUla, which presents exhibitions, prototypes, and products inspired by heritage and place. At Desert X AlUla 2026, everything unfolds around Space Without Measure, inspired by Kahlil Gibran’s thoughts on the limitless reach of the human spirit. Here, artists from Saudi Arabia and beyond create site-specific installations shaped by the land’s history, culture and sense of time.
Winter at Tantora – AlUla
Returning to AlUla this December, Winter at Tantora will honour the season with live music, art, and heritage walks through the Old Town. Set among the palm groves and sandstone cliffs of the valley, the festival features open-air concerts at Maraya, pop-up dining by leading chefs, camel races, and bustling artisan souks. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with a focus on Saudi hospitality and cultural exchange. Now in its sixth edition, Winter at Tantora will run through to January 2026, offering a window into AlUla’s rich creative spirit.
Riyadh Winter Wonderland – Riyadh
There’s something slightly surreal about stepping into a snow-themed winter market in the middle of Riyadh – and that’s exactly the point. Set beneath the towers of King Abdullah Financial District, as well as Boulevard City and Boulevard World, Winter Wonderland is open through to March 2026, with its now-familiar mix of ice rinks, rollercoasters, illusionists, and pop-up food stalls, all lit bright against the desert night. The format draws from a traditional European winter fair but is distinctly Saudi in scale: big, busy, and perfect for families.
Saudi Cup – Riyadh
The world's richest horse race weekend returns to the capital on February 13 2026, combining fashion, culture, and equestrian beauty in a spectacle set to attract elite jockeys and fans from around the world. More than a race, the Saudi Cup is a celebration of tradition and excellence, highlighting the Kingdom’s equestrian legacy on the global stage. It would also be difficult to ignore that, thanks to its 20 million dollar purse, the Saudi Cup is currently the most lucrative event in horse racing.
WWE Royal Rumble – Riyadh Season
For the first time in its 39-year history, WWE’s Royal Rumble is set to be staged outside the US – and it’s coming to Riyadh. Slated for late January as part of Riyadh Season, the Royal Rumble is one of WWE’s biggest annual events, known for its 30-person over-the-top-rope format and dramatic surprise entrants. The move follows a series of major WWE pay-per-view events in Saudi, but this one marks a shift in scale and symbolism. It’s historic for wrestling fans, and it’s another headline on an increasingly global calendar for Riyadh.
Jeddah Winter Wonderland & Global Street – Jeddah
The city’s waterfront near the Corniche Circuit is lit up with Jeddah Winter Wonderland attractions, which unfold with a series of themed spaces designed to suit different moods and ages. Running until mid February 2026, the experience is arranged across several zones, including Wild Winter, Frost Fair and the North Pole, each offering its own rhythm. Some areas are energetic and playful, others slower and more reflective, allowing visitors to move at their own pace rather than follow a fixed route. Open from late afternoon into the evening, the atmosphere shifts as the light fades, with weekends stretching a little later for those happy to stay on. At the heart of it, the ice rink brings a simple pleasure, as the music drifts across the space and skaters of all ages take to ice.
Ithra Winter Season – Dhahran, Eastern Province
Not all winter events in Saudi are about lights, rides, and spectacle. At Ithra – the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture in Dhahran – the season takes on a calmer rhythm. This year’s Winter Season opened in late October 2025 and runs through to the end of April 2026, with a curated programme of exhibitions, film screenings and workshops exploring the shared experience of art and language. The architecture alone is worth the visit, but what keeps people returning is the mood: reflective and deeply local. For those looking to slow down rather than speed up this winter, Ithra offers space to do exactly that.
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