Riyadh Season 2019: the top acts coming to perform in Saudi Arabia

Here's what to look out for in the kingdom over the next few months

BTS performs "Fake Love" at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 20, 2018, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Powered by automated translation

Over 100 events are set to take place across Saudi Arabia over the next three months as part of Riyadh Season. The K-pop super group BTS set the country alight when they performed at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Friday, October 11. They also made history when they became the first international band to play a solo headline concert in the kingdom.

Moving forward, here are the biggest acts set to descend on the kingdom to watch out for:

'The Wizard of OZ'

The beloved musical runs for two weeks from Wednesday, October 16 on the Princess Nourah University stage.

The Illusionists

The touring magic troupe, who have performed on Broadway, feature a rotating cast of five to eight magicians who each have their own specialties. Think illusions, mind reading and comedy. The show is in Riyadh for four weeks, from Thursday, October 17 to Sunday, November 17, and is held at Zone Four.

Tamer Hosny and Nancy Ajram

epa07730336 Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram performs during the 2019 Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts at the Jerash archeological site, Jerash, some 46 km North of Amman, Jordan, 20 July 2019. The Jerash festival takes part from 18 to 27 July 2019.  EPA/ANDRE PAIN
Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram will perform alongside Tamer Hosny. EPA

Lebanese songstress Ajram and Egyptian singer Hosny will take to the stage together on Friday, October 18 from 8pm.

Cirque du Soleil Bazzar

‘Bazzar’ features a duo roller skating performance. Courtesy Cirque du Soleil
‘Bazzar’ features a duo roller skating performance. Courtesy Cirque du Soleil

The circus comes to Riyadh on Friday, November 1, and sticks around until Saturday, December 7. Expect fascinating acrobatics and several showtimes per day. The shows take place at Riyadh Front.

Abdulrahman Bin Musaad night 

Hussein Al Jassmi performs on a star-studded night. Courtesy DCT
Hussein Al Jassmi performs on a star-studded night. Courtesy DCT

Prince Abdulrahman Bin Musaad will recite a number of his famous poems, before several of the Arab world's biggest stars, including Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi, Syrian artist Assala Nasri, Saudi composer Abadi Al Jawhar and Saudi singer Mohammed Abdu, take to the stage to perform on Thursday, October 24.

Anime expo

All your favourite characters are jetting in from Japan for three days of anime from Thursday, November 14 to Saturday, November 16. Meet One Piece, Death Note, Detective Conan and plenty more, daily between 3pm and midnight at Riyadh Front.

Dynamo

The famed magician will show off his card and magic tricks between Wednesday, November 27 to Saturday, November 30 at the Riyadh Winter Wonderland zone.

WWE Crown Jewel

WWE Superstar Seth Rollins will be in action at WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh. Courtesy WWE
WWE Superstar Seth Rollins will be in action at WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh. Courtesy WWE

A signature event of Riyadh Season, WWE Crown Jewel takes place at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Thursday, October 31.

It will feature WWE superstars such as Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. Other WWE Superstars confirmed are “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, The New Day, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and Rey Mysterio along with special appearances by WWE Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair.

Stan Wawrinka and Daniil Medvedev

Three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka and world No 4 Medvedev are the star names signed up for the first international tennis tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia later this year.

Eight of the world’s leading men’s tennis players will contest the Diriyah Tennis Cup just outside of Riyadh from Thursday, December 12 to Saturday, December 14.

The tournament forms part of the Diriyah season (Diriyah is just outside of Riyadh) which will include the Diriyah E-Prix, "Clash On The Dunes", the heavyweight boxing rematch between Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua, and Diriyah Equestrian Festival, in addition to other entertainment and cultural activities from Friday, November 22 to Saturday, December 21.