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The great Middle East festivals turn whole cities into stages for months at a time. From Riyadh Season to the Dubai Shopping Festival, here is when they happen and why they are worth planning a trip around.
Updated
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At a glance
Festivals here are not weekend affairs. Saudi Arabia's seasons run for weeks or months, with concerts, sport, food halls, theater and family attractions; Dubai's festivals pair citywide sales with fireworks and headline shows; and the ancient theaters of Jerash and Baalbeck host summer performances under the stars.
Most festivals fall between October and March, when the Gulf's weather is at its best. That makes a winter trip especially rewarding, and it pairs naturally with sport and culture on our events calendar and the year ahead in Events 2027.
Dates are announced each year by the organizers, often only a few weeks ahead, so treat the months below as a guide and confirm on the official sites before you book.
The region's biggest entertainment season, with zones such as Boulevard World and Boulevard City, world-class fight nights, concerts and theater. The 2026 edition opens on October 21 for about ten weeks. See Riyadh and boxing and fight nights.
Official site ↗A summer season along the Corniche, the Jeddah Promenade and City Walk, with family shows, concerts and marine-themed events. It ran in summer 2026.
Official site ↗A calendar of festivals in a desert of sandstone canyons and ancient tombs, including Winter at Tantora, the Ancient Kingdoms Festival and the AlUla Arts Festival with Desert X AlUla. See AlUla.
Official site ↗A season of heritage and culture around the mud-brick UNESCO site of At-Turaif, with markets, storytelling, folk music and evening dining. The 2025-26 edition ran from November to March. See Diriyah.
Forty-five days of citywide sales, raffles, fireworks and concerts. The 32nd edition runs from December 4, 2026 to January 17, 2027. See malls and souks.
Official site ↗Dubai's summer festival of deep discounts, indoor concerts, family entertainment and restaurant weeks. The 2026 edition ran from July 2 to August 30.
Official site ↗A vast open-air park of country pavilions, street food, rides and nightly shows. Season 31 opened on October 14, 2026 and runs to May 2027. See our Journal story.
Official site ↗The capital's celebrated festival of classical music, ballet, opera and visual art, staged at venues such as Emirates Palace, Etihad Arena and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The 23rd edition runs from October 10 to December 19, 2026.
Official site ↗A grand celebration of Emirati and world heritage, with country pavilions, camel and dhow races, fountain shows and record-setting fireworks. The 2026-27 edition runs from October 30, 2026 to March 14, 2027.
Official site ↗Every December 18, Doha celebrates with a parade on the Corniche, fireworks and heritage events at Darb Al Saai. See Doha.
Official site ↗A month of fountain and drone shows, heritage villages, family attractions and Oman Design Week across Muscat's parks. The 2026 edition ran from January 1 to 31. See Muscat.
Official site ↗Concerts, poetry and folk dance in one of the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere. The 2026 festival ran from July 23 to August 2. See Jerash.
Official site ↗One of the oldest festivals in the Arab world, staged among the colossal Roman temples of Baalbeck. Founded in 1956, the festival marked its 70th anniversary in 2026.
Official site ↗A glamorous week of premieres, masterclasses and open-air screenings on Jemaa el-Fna. The 23rd edition runs from November 20 to 28, 2026. See Marrakech.
Official site ↗Spiritual music from around the world, performed in palace gardens and at the medina's historic gates. See Fes.
Usual months; confirm current dates with the organizers.
| Festival | Place | Usual months | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh Season | Riyadh | October to December or later | 2026 edition opens October 21 |
| Jeddah Season | Jeddah | Summer | Ran summer 2026 |
| AlUla Moments | AlUla | October to February | 2026-27 calendar to be confirmed |
| Diriyah Season | Diriyah | November to March | 2026-27 dates to be confirmed |
| Dubai Shopping Festival | Dubai | December to January | December 4, 2026 to January 17, 2027 |
| Dubai Summer Surprises | Dubai | July to August | 2027 dates to be confirmed |
| Global Village | Dubai | October to May | Open now, to May 2027 |
| Abu Dhabi Festival | Abu Dhabi | October to December | Open now, to December 19, 2026 |
| Sheikh Zayed Festival | Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi | November to March | 2026-27 dates to be confirmed |
| Qatar National Day | Doha | December 18 | Annual |
| Muscat Nights | Muscat | January | 2027 dates to be confirmed |
| Jerash Festival | Jerash | Late July to early August | 2027 dates to be confirmed |
| Baalbeck International Festival | Baalbeck | July to August | 2027 dates to be confirmed |
| Marrakech International Film Festival | Marrakech | Late November | November 20 to 28, 2026 |
| Fes Festival of World Sacred Music | Fes | Usually spring | To be confirmed |
Hotels fill quickly during the biggest weeks, especially around New Year's Eve in Dubai and the headline fight nights of Riyadh Season, so book early; our finest hotels guide is a good starting point. Tickets for zones and concerts are sold through each festival's official channels.
These seasons also show how fast the region's leisure economy is growing. New entertainment districts in Riyadh, Diriyah and Qiddiya are shaping where people want to live and invest; see Saudi Arabia Luxury Real Estate for that side of the story.
November to February offers the most festivals and the best weather in the Gulf. Summer brings Dubai Summer Surprises and the open-air festivals of Jerash and Baalbeck.
Many zones require a ticket, and headline concerts and fights are ticketed separately. Buy through the official Riyadh Season channels.
Not at all. It includes fireworks, concerts, raffles, food events and family activities across the city.
Yes. Most seasons are designed for families; see family travel for ideas.
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Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.