Diriyah Season

Diriyah Season is a cultural and entertainment season held in Diriyah Governorate in the Riyadh region at the centre of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is part of the Saudi Seasons initiative, and its first edition launched on 22 November 2019 and continued until 21 December of the same year. [1][2]

Its events span sports, entertainment and the arts and are held at historic and natural sites, most notably the historic At-Turaif District, inscribed on the World Heritage List, and Wadi Hanifah, introducing visitors to Diriyah's heritage and its assets. [1][15]

Diriyah Season was announced at a ceremony held in the historic At-Turaif District in Diriyah Governorate on 6 October 2019, as one of the Saudi Seasons 2019, with its events to launch on 22 November and continue until 21 December 2019. [1]

The first edition launched on 22 November 2019 with a range of sports and entertainment events, targeting more than one million visitors until the season's close on 21 December 2019, with expectations of attracting tens of thousands of foreign tourists and a 54% rise in hotel bookings. [2]

The historic At-Turaif District in Diriyah hosted the Diriyah E-Prix over 22 and 23 November 2019, within the events of Diriyah Season. [3]

Diriyah returned to host the E-Prix for the third consecutive year in February 2021, within the seventh season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, and its second round ended in a win for Britain's Sam Bird. [4]

The second edition, Diriyah Season 2022, launched on 20 October 2022 and ran until 22 February 2023, organising a number of international sports championships and entertainment events in historic Diriyah. [5]

An opening ceremony was held in At-Turaif District on 20 October 2022 under the patronage of Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports and President of Diriyah Season, in the presence of Prince Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman, Governor of Diriyah, and Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb. [6]

Among its sporting events was the Diriyah Tennis Cup from 8 to 10 December 2022, with the participation of 12 of the world's leading tennis players, among them Russia's Daniil Medvedev and Germany's Alexander Zverev, and the Kingdom hosted the Spanish Super Cup for the third consecutive time from 11 to 15 January 2023, with the participation of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Real Betis, alongside the Diriyah Season Cup match between Al-Hilal and Newcastle United on 8 December 2022, and the Italian Super Cup between Milan and Inter on 18 January 2023. [7][8]

The second edition of Diriyah Nights attracted about 132,982 visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom between 1 January and 22 February 2023. [9]

The calendar for the third edition of Diriyah Season 2023–2024 was revealed on 6 December 2023, to launch on 12 December 2023 in the historic At-Turaif District, celebrating Diriyah's authenticity over three months. [10]

Diriyah hosted the Formula E World Championship for the sixth consecutive time on 26–27 January 2024, through the second and third rounds of the championship's tenth season, with the participation of 22 drivers representing 11 international teams. [11]

Diriyah Season 2024–2025 concluded on the evening of Friday 11 April 2025, after more than 100 days of events, interactive experiences and live performances. [12]

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority announced the calendar for Diriyah Season 2025–2026 on 18 October 2025 and launched its new identity inspired by Wadi Hanifah, with programmes to begin on 1 November 2025 in more than ten programmes distributed across historic and natural sites. [13]

The season launched on the evening of 31 October 2025 in Wadi Safar under the patronage of Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Abdullah bin Turki, Governor of Diriyah, under the slogan 'Your Pride, Your Place', with more than ten programmes distributed across historic and natural sites. [14]

Within the Hal Al-Qusoor programme, six historic palaces of the imams and princes of the First Saudi State in At-Turaif District, a World Heritage Site, were opened and made available to the public for the first time. [15]

Q: What is Diriyah Season? A: It is a cultural and entertainment season held in Diriyah Governorate in the Riyadh region at the centre of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it is part of the Saudi Seasons initiative.

Q: When did the first edition of Diriyah Season launch? A: It launched on 22 November 2019 and continued until 21 December 2019, after being announced at a ceremony held in the historic At-Turaif District on 6 October 2019.

Q: What are the most prominent sports events in Diriyah Season? A: The Diriyah E-Prix, the Diriyah Tennis Cup, the Spanish Super Cup, the Italian Super Cup and the Diriyah Season Cup match, alongside entertainment and arts events.

Q: Where are Diriyah Season events held? A: In Diriyah Governorate, most notably at the historic At-Turaif District, Wadi Hanifah and Wadi Safar.

Q: When is Diriyah Season 2025–2026? A: Its calendar was announced on 18 October 2025, and it was launched on 31 October 2025 in Wadi Safar under the slogan 'Your Pride, Your Place', with programmes beginning on 1 November 2025 in more than ten programmes distributed across historic and natural sites.