‘Surprises in store’ as Riyadh Season prepares for Oct. 21 launch

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Updated 05 October 2023
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‘Surprises in store’ as Riyadh Season prepares for Oct. 21 launch

  • GEA chairman reveals expanded lineup, new zones for entertainment event’s third edition

JEDDAH: The third edition of Riyadh Season will kick off in less than 10 days with an international show by Cirque du Soleil, the Saudi General Entertainment Authority has announced.

GEA last month announced a new logo for this year’s expanded Riyadh Season, along with a new slogan, “Beyond Imagination.”

The announcement was made by GEA Chairman Turki Alalshikh, who said the 2022 event will feature new zones and events, including some surprises.

The slogan for the inaugural Riyadh Season in 2019 was “Imagine,” while last year’s second edition was staged under the banner “Imagine More.”

Speaking from the top of a building in the Saudi capital, Alalshikh announced the starting day for the beginning of Riyadh Season in a promotional video outlining the new season’s programs and activities.

He said that the new season will include 15 zones, each characterized by a special entertainment character, the most prominent of which is the “Boulevard World” zone, which will highlight different countries’ cultures.

“Imagine that you are America, France, Greece, India, China, Spain, Japan, Morocco, Mexico and Italy at the same time. We will bring in everything in these countries, their markets, restaurants and arts,” Alalshikh said.

Addressing the public, he added: “You will also board boats and submarines for the first time in Riyadh’s biggest artificial lake in the world. All these activities will be held at the newly introduced entertainment city, we called ‘BLVD World’.”

The GEA chairman added that 25 Arab and international theatrical shows have been added to this season’s activities.

Sporting events will include WWE, and the Riyadh Season Cup, which brings together Paris Saint-Germain football players and the national stars of the two Saudi teams, Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr.

The season will include Cirque du Soleil international shows and fireworks displays spread over 65 days.  

Last year, the season entertained visitors with 7,500 diverse events, including 70 Arab concerts, six global concerts, 10 global exhibitions, 350 theatrical shows, 18 Arab plays and six global plays.

Riyadh Season became the go-to entertainment destination for families, friends and international tourists in the Saudi capital.
 


France, Saudi collaborate on space for artists in Riyadh

Updated 16 January 2026
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France, Saudi collaborate on space for artists in Riyadh

  • L’Institut francais, Riyadh Art will open La Fabrique on Feb. 22
  • ‘New cultural chapter’ between the nations, says France envoy

RIYADH: L’Institut francais in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Art, an initiative of the city’s royal commission, have announced the opening of La Fabrique, a space for artists, on Jan. 22.

The project is based in the Riyadh Art Hub in JAX District and will enable Saudi and French artists to create, experiment, and bring their visions to life, according to a press release from the organizers.

La Fabrique also offers the public a rare opportunity to witness creative production including movement performances, digital and immersive arts, photography, music, cinema, cuisine and poetry.

At its core, La Fabrique fosters artistic exchange between French and Saudi artists, fostering new encounters, shared practices, and co-creation.

The initiative is aligned with the vision shared by French President Emmanuel Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who have placed cultural cooperation at the heart of the renewed Saudi-French strategic partnership.

Anchored in the ambitions of Vision 2030, La Fabrique is a part of Riyadh’s transformation into a major international cultural hub.

Developed in cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, the project strengthens the long-standing cultural dialogue between the two nations, the press release stated.

Patrick Maisonnave, ambassador of France to Saudi Arabia, said: “La Fabrique embodies the spirit of a new cultural chapter between France and Saudi Arabia.

“By bringing our artists together, we are not only sharing techniques and traditions, we are opening a space where imaginations meet, new forms emerge, and creativity becomes a bridge between our two societies.

“This initiative reflects our belief that artistic dialogue is one of the most powerful ways to build understanding, trust, and a shared future. It stands as a concrete example of France’s contribution to the ambitions of Vision 2030.”