AlUla Moments is Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious cultural events calendar — a year-round programme of festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, sporting events, wellness retreats and heritage experiences set against the otherworldly sandstone landscapes of AlUla. Running from September through to the following summer, the 2025–2026 season features over 200 individual events, making AlUla one of the most dynamic cultural destinations in the Middle East. Whether you are drawn to contemporary art installations in the desert, world-class music under canyon skies, endurance cycling through ancient valleys or candlelit classical concerts at a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this guide covers every festival, practical detail and booking tip you need to plan your visit as part of a wider Saudi Arabia travel itinerary.

What Is AlUla Moments?

AlUla Moments is the umbrella brand for all festivals, events and cultural programming in the AlUla region, managed by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU). Launched in 2019, the programme has grown from a handful of heritage-themed events into a year-round calendar spanning music, contemporary art, wellness, sport, gastronomy and community celebrations. The 2025–2026 season is the most ambitious yet, with programming divided into distinct seasonal festivals that each carry their own identity and atmosphere.

The events take place across multiple venues — from the ancient mudbrick streets of AlUla Old Town and the AlJadidah Arts District to the dramatic canyon settings of Hegra and the open desert around Elephant Rock. Each festival is designed to work with the landscape rather than against it, making the natural surroundings as much a part of the experience as the programming itself.

The Complete 2025–2026 Festival Calendar

AlUla Moments runs on an annual cycle that broadly follows the cooler months, with the heaviest programming concentrated between October and February. Here is every major festival in order.

AZIMUTH — September

The season opens in September with AZIMUTH, an open-air music festival timed to coincide with Saudi National Day weekend (23 September). AZIMUTH brings together global and regional music talent for immersive performances set in AlUla’s canyons, combining cutting-edge audiovisual production with the raw acoustics of the desert. The festival typically runs for three days (19–21 September in 2025) and draws a younger, music-focused audience. Expect a mix of electronic, world music and Arabic pop acts performing against canyon walls under open skies.

AlUla Skies Festival — September/October

Following AZIMUTH, AlUla Skies Festival (26 September – 5 October in 2025) celebrates the region’s famously clear desert sky. The centrepiece is untethered hot-air balloon flights at dawn, offering aerial views of the sandstone formations and ancient sites below. Evening programming includes the Glow Show — illuminated hot-air balloons tethered on the ground — alongside stargazing sessions led by astronomers who take advantage of AlUla’s minimal light pollution. This is one of the most photogenic events in the calendar.

AlUla Wellness Festival — October

Running for approximately ten days in late October (24 October – 1 November in 2025), the Wellness Festival focuses on holistic wellbeing and physical challenge. Programming includes daily yoga and meditation sessions at sunrise, Les Mills fitness classes, mindfulness workshops at the Five Senses Sanctuary (from SAR 100 per person for 60–90 minute sessions), and outdoor adventure activities. New athletic competitions have been added including the AlUla Half Marathon, 24-Hour Endurance Race, AlUla Duathlon and the Ashar Valley Triathlon — combining running, cycling and swimming through spectacular desert terrain.

Ancient Kingdoms Festival — November/December

The Ancient Kingdoms Festival (20 November – 6 December in 2025) is where AlUla’s 7,000 years of human history take centre stage. This three-week heritage celebration transforms the region’s archaeological sites into immersive after-dark experiences. Highlights include Hegra After Dark, which opens the Nabataean tombs of Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site for evening exploration; the Incense Road Experience, a sensory journey retracing the ancient trade route; and the Hegra Drone Show — Stories from the Sky, a spectacular aerial light display above the tombs. Ikmah After Dark illuminates the thousands of inscriptions at the Lihyanite open-air library, while Hegra Candlelit Classics stages classical concerts by world-renowned international artists in the acoustic amphitheatre of the tomb facades.

Winter at Tantora — December/January

Winter at Tantora (18 December 2025 – 10 January 2026) is AlUla’s flagship festival and the event that originally put the region on the global tourism map. Named after the ancient sundial in AlUla Old Town that marks the winter solstice, Tantora weaves together music, gastronomy and heritage into a three-week celebration. The 2025–2026 edition opened with a tribute to the Saudi Year of Handicrafts and featured headline performances from Emirati superstar Ahlam (26 December), Lebanese legend Assala Nasri and Adam on New Year’s Eve, and Elissa performing with an all-female orchestra on 9 January 2026.

Beyond the headline concerts, Winter at Tantora includes Shorfat Tantora — rooftop musical ensembles performing from balconies along the Incense Road in the AlJadidah district, blending Saudi classics with operatic and contemporary pieces. The Thanaya Concert Series stages performances between towering canyon walls, while the AlManshiyah Carnival runs every weekend with local food markets, family-friendly performances and cultural dance displays. Exclusive pop-up dining by Michelin-starred chefs including partnerships with Ducasse and Annabel’s makes Tantora a destination for gastronomy as much as music.

Booking tip: Luxury hotels in AlUla — particularly Banyan Tree AlUla, Dar Tantora and Habitas AlUla — sell out 3–6 months ahead of Winter at Tantora. Book accommodation before you book flights.

AlUla Arts Festival — January/February

Returning for its fifth edition (16 January – 14 February 2026), the AlUla Arts Festival transforms the oasis and AlJadidah Arts District into a living gallery of contemporary art, performance and design. The festival brings together four major programmes under one roof.

Desert X AlUla 2026 is the headline exhibition — the fourth edition of this landmark open-air art biennale that places site-responsive contemporary artworks directly into AlUla’s desert landscape. The 2026 edition, themed Space Without Measure and inspired by Kahlil Gibran, was co-curated by Wejdan Reda and Zoé Whitley with artistic direction from Neville Wakefield and Raneem Farsi. Eleven artist projects comprising 15 artworks — including 10 new commissions and five historic works on loan from Riyadh Art — were set across AlUla’s valleys, canyons and oases. Participating artists included Sara Abdu, Mohammed Alfaraj, Tarek Atoui, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Agnes Denes, Ibrahim El-Salahi, Basmah Felemban, Vibha Galhotra and Héctor Zamora.

Arduna, a major exhibition co-curated with Paris’s Centre Pompidou, ran from 1 February – 15 April 2026 across six thematic chapters exploring humanity’s relationship with nature and land, featuring over 80 works from both institutions. This collaboration marks a milestone in AlUla’s ambition to become home to a permanent contemporary art museum.

Additional programmes included Madrasat Addeera (traditional crafts demonstrations — pottery, weaving, jewellery-making), the AlUla Music Hub in the AlJadidah Arts District (workshops in traditional instruments, open-mic nights, recitals), the Villa Hegra Urban Dance Showcase, the Design Space Arts Festival, and curated film screenings at Villa Hegra Cinema.

Sporting Events — January/February

The start of each year brings a concentrated burst of world-class sporting events to AlUla’s dramatic terrain.

The AlUla Tour cycling race is particularly notable — a five-stage road race through the valleys and sandstone corridors that draws top international teams competing for UCI points. Spectating is free along the route, making it one of the most accessible events in the calendar.

Ramadan, Eid and Summer — March to August

AlUla’s programming continues through the quieter months. During Ramadan (expected late February to late March 2026), the region hosts traditional open-air Iftars, local folklore performances and cultural activities culminating in Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Eid al-Adha in May 2026 brings its own programming, and a dedicated Summer in AlUla season (June–August) features evening events designed around the warmer temperatures. The AlUla Desert Blaze returns in 2026 as a signature summer event, though dates are typically announced closer to the season.

Getting to AlUla

AlUla has become significantly more accessible in recent years. AlUla International Airport (ULH) receives daily flights from Riyadh (approximately 1 hour 55 minutes) and Jeddah, with international services from Dubai, Doha and Amman during peak season. Several airlines have expanded routes specifically to serve the festival calendar.

If you prefer a road trip, AlUla is a three-hour drive from Medina and three hours from Tabuk, making it easy to combine with visits to either city. From Medina, the drive follows a well-maintained highway through open desert. Getting a Saudi tourist e-visa is straightforward for citizens of 66 eligible countries including the US, UK, EU member states, Australia and China — the process takes minutes online.

Transport within AlUla: For visiting Hegra and other archaeological sites, you must arrange your own transport to the Hegra Visitor Centre. Options include personal vehicle, taxi or the Darb AlUla app, a local ride-hailing service.

Where to Stay During AlUla Moments

Accommodation in AlUla ranges from heritage guesthouses to ultra-luxury desert resorts. During festival season (October–February), booking early is essential. Here are the key price tiers.

A three-night AlUla trip during festival season costs between SAR 2,500 (USD 667) for a budget itinerary and SAR 25,000+ (USD 6,700+) for an ultra-luxury experience including premium event tickets and fine dining. Prices drop significantly outside peak season — May offers the lowest rates, with rooms potentially 60% cheaper than the winter festival period.

Where to Eat During the Festivals

AlUla’s dining scene has expanded dramatically alongside its festival programme. During Winter at Tantora, pop-up restaurants by international chefs transform heritage buildings and desert settings into exclusive dining venues. Year-round, the AlJadidah Arts District is home to a growing collection of cafes and restaurants, while AlUla Old Town offers traditional Saudi cuisine in atmospheric mudbrick surroundings. During the Arts Festival, food markets and pop-up kitchens add street-food variety across the festival venues.

Practical Tips for Festival Visitors

What to Wear

AlUla’s desert climate means warm days and genuinely cold nights between November and February — temperatures can drop below 10°C after sunset. Bring layers for evening events, especially outdoor concerts and after-dark heritage experiences at Hegra. Saudi Arabia’s dress code is relaxed for tourists in AlUla, but modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is recommended when visiting heritage and religious sites.

Booking and Tickets

Most events are bookable through experiencealula.com, with account creation required. Some events (such as the AlUla Trail Race) sell out quickly, while others — including the AlUla Tour cycling race and Desert X AlUla exhibition — are free to attend. Tickets for concerts during Winter at Tantora and the Thanaya Concert Series range from moderate to premium depending on the artist and seating.

The AlUla Moments contact centre is available on +966 920 025 003 (Sunday–Thursday, 8am–5pm KSA time) for enquiries and assistance.

Best Time to Go

The sweet spot is mid-November to mid-February — this window captures the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, Winter at Tantora and the Arts Festival back-to-back, with daytime temperatures of 20–25°C. January is the single best month if you want to combine art (Desert X), sport (AlUla Tour, Trail Race) and heritage (Hegra remains open year-round). For budget travellers, the shoulder months of October and March offer pleasant weather, fewer crowds and lower accommodation prices.

Combining AlUla with Other Saudi Destinations

AlUla sits in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, making it a natural addition to several routes. Fly in from Riyadh or Jeddah and combine with Medina (3 hours south). Adventure travellers can continue north to Tabuk (3 hours) and on to NEOM. Those with more time could add a Red Sea diving trip or loop back through Jeddah. A one-week Saudi itinerary of Jeddah–AlUla–Medina is one of the most popular routes for first-time visitors to the Kingdom.

AlUla Moments vs Other Saudi Seasons

Saudi Arabia runs several seasonal entertainment programmes — Riyadh Season, Jeddah Season, MDL Beast and more. AlUla Moments stands apart in two ways: its setting and its curation. Where Riyadh Season is urban mega-entertainment, AlUla Moments is landscape-integrated cultural programming. The events here are designed for the terrain — art placed in canyons, music performed between cliff faces, heritage illuminated at the actual archaeological sites. Visitor numbers reflect this positioning: AlUla received approximately 286,000 visitors in 2024 (up 20% from 2023) and is targeting 380,000 in 2026, growing from just 20,000 in 2020 — a fifteen-fold increase that speaks to the appeal of this approach.

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