Forget the changing of the seasons, it’s the Saudi Seasons (capital) that we are most excited for. Since the Saudi Seasons launched in 2019, the festivals have delivered back-to-back activities across sports, culture, music and more in each of their host cities.
The countrywide festivals see everything from massive concerts and huge football team matches to more niche offerings like anime parties, poetry readings, gaming festivals, and even circus shows on ice. Whether it’s Riyadh Season or Jeddah Season, there’s always something to look forward to. So, if another part of the Kingdom is hosting its festival, it’s well worth making a trip over to check it out.
Are you ready for the new season? Here’s everything you need to know about the super Saudi Seasons.
Saudi Seasons history
The Saudi Seasons initiative was launched back in 2019 by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage with plans to host 11 seasons in the different regions of Saudi Arabia.
The 11 seasons include: Riyadh Season, Jeddah Season, Sharqiah Season (Eastern Province), Taif Season, Al Soudah Season, National Day Season, Diriyah Season, AlUla Season, Ha’il Season, Ramadan Season and Eid Al-Fitr season.
Currently, the six main ones taking place are in Riyadh, Jeddah, Sharqiah, Taif, Diriyah and AlUla.
Saudi Season schedule
Sharqiah Season
Sharqiah Season, or Eastern Province Season, begins in March and typically lasts for two weeks. The last edition of this Saudi Season was held back in 2019 and saw water sports, concerts, multimedia exhibitions, plus, cultural and educational events.
Click here to learn more about getting around Saudi Arabia.
Mar. Eastern Province, saudiseasons.com.
Jeddah Season
Next up we have Jeddah Season. Jeddah Season corresponds to the summer season. The festival lasts for about two months and begins in May and ends in June. The last Jeddah Season saw a whopping 2,800 events across plays, concerts and exhibitions. Given that we’re in the Red Sea City, the event is known for its water activities. Jeddah Season has hosted a number of diving lessons, boating activities and a yacht club. Are you ready to dive in?
Click here to learn more about Jeddah.
May to Jun. Jeddah, jeddahseason.sa.
Taif Season
Taif Season is around a month long and is usually hosted in August. The events are mostly focused on the heritage of Saudi Arabia with concerts by famous Arab musicians always being the draw. Taif is a city located in the Makkah province in southwest Saudi Arabia. Zones for the festival usually include: Souk Okaz (the largest and best-known souk in pre-Islamic times), Crown Prince Camel Festival, Al Ward Heritage Village and the Al-Baid Masters (mountain hiking activities).
Click here for UNESCO World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia.
Aug. Taif, instagram.com/taifseason.
Riyadh Season
The biggest festival of its kind when it comes to Saudi Seasons (we’re not biased), Riyadh Season lasts for nearly three months (sometimes more) and usually begins in October. Riyadh Season 2021, saw 350 theatre shows, 70 Arabic concerts, six international musical events, 18 Arabic plays, six international plays, ten international exhibitions and 100 interactive experiences. And there was still more. Case in point: The 2019 edition saw pop sensations BTS take the stage and the 2021 edition won four Guinness World Records, so that’s the kind of level you should expect going into the season. The 2022 season is on now and has already broken records.
Click here to learn more about Riyadh Season’s record-breaking events.
Oct. Riyadh, riyadhseason.sa.
Diriyah Season
Diriyah has its very own one of the Saudi Seasons that begins around October and ends in the new year. The city was the original capital of Saudi Arabia and is located a couple of kilometres away from Riyadh’s city centre, and is primed to be a massive foodie destination. Set against the dusty landscape, this Saudi Season is mostly known for its sporty competitions like equestrian competitions, boxing championships and more. Diriyah Season 2022 has already been confirmed with the festivities beginning on Thursday October 20 and run until Wednesday February 22, 2023.
Click here to learn more about Diriyah Season 2022.
Thu Oct 20 to Wed Feb 22, 2023. Diriyah. instagram.com/diriyahseason.
AlUla Season
The last of the main Saudi Seasons is AlUla Season or better known as Winter at Tantora. AlUla is one of the most breathtaking places in Saudi Arabia so naturally, most of the events are focused on the landscape, along with the best in art, music, fashion and food. This year, AlUla Season began in December and ends January 2023.
Click here to find out about Habitas AlUla.
Dec 2022 to Jan 2023. AlUla, experiencealula.com
Want to know more about Riyadh Season? Click here for full details.
