Calendar / MDLBEAST Soundstorm
ReasonToGo · activity-first travel discovery. Honest timing. No bookings, no commissions, no one pays to rank. How we choose →
Music & Culture Festivals in Riyadh
MDLBEAST Soundstorm
Dec 3–5, 2026ConfirmedMDLBEAST Soundstorm 2026
Run by MDLBEAST, with published dates and a real program.
Dates & details verified against: Official event site ↗
Why go
MDLBEAST Soundstorm is the largest music festival in the Gulf and the loudest signal of how fast Riyadh has changed. Launched by the Saudi entertainment company MDLBEAST in December 2019, it takes over the Banban site north of the city for three days each December, with multiple stages of electronic, hip-hop and Arab and international headliners running deep into the desert night. Crowds have been reported above 400,000 across the weekend, which puts it among the biggest festivals anywhere. Around it MDLBEAST also runs the XP music conference, so the weekend is as much an industry gathering as a party. For a traveller it is a way to see contemporary Saudi youth culture at full volume, in a setting that did not exist a decade ago.
When it runs
Held over three days in early December each year at the Banban site north of Riyadh. Upcoming: 3 to 5 December 2026; early December 2027 expected.
- Dec 3–5, 2026ConfirmedMDLBEAST Soundstorm 2026
- Dec 2–4, 2027ExpectedMDLBEAST Soundstorm 2027
Dates read confirmed where the organizer has published them, and expected where we've projected the recurrence. Always verify with the organizer before booking.
What to expect
Soundstorm runs over three days in early December, when Riyadh evenings are cool and comfortable. The full lineup and stage times are published in the weeks before, and headline nights and premium areas sell out, so buy tickets ahead. The site is an open desert build at Banban with late finishes, so plan warm layers for the night and transport back to the city.
Getting there & around
The festival site is at Banban, roughly 45 minutes north of central Riyadh, reached by shuttle or ride-hail; there is no walk-up option, so plan transport in both directions and expect heavy demand at closing time. Buy tickets only through the official MDLBEAST channel. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport is well connected, and December is peak season for the city, so book accommodation early.
Where it happens
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Want to go? The full Riyadh guide: conditions, logistics, providers →