Saudi Summer 2026 Launches with 550+ Tourism Products Across Five Regions

Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Authority has officially launched Saudi Summer 2026, a four-month domestic and inbound tourism programme running from June through September. More than 140 public and private sector partners contributed to the offering, which spans five distinct destination zones and packages more than 550 tourism products for visitors with varying interests and budgets.

The five destination zones

Aseer anchors the programme as its centrepiece attraction. The mountainous southwest region, home to the city of Abha, offers cool temperatures, ancient Asiri architecture, terraced villages and trekking routes through the Aseer National Park. The launch of Aseer Season — a dedicated events programme similar to the established Jeddah and Riyadh seasons — introduces concerts, cultural performances and guided outdoor experiences across the region through the summer.

Jeddah returns with Jeddah Season, combining waterfront entertainment along the Corniche, heritage events in Al-Balad (the UNESCO-listed old city), a global music festival programme and the Jeddah Shopping Festival. The city also benefits from its position as the gateway to Red Sea diving and the starting point for most international arrivals.

Taif offers mountain weather and rose-scented gardens throughout June and July, with the Arruddaf Park, Al-Shafa and Al-Hada highlands providing temperatures that sit markedly cooler than the coastal cities. Traditional markets and agricultural orchards add a strongly local character that contrasts with the entertainment-led seasons in Riyadh and Jeddah.

The Red Sea coast focuses on water-based activities — diving, snorkelling, boat tours and beach resorts — with the broader Red Sea Project developments now adding internationally branded luxury properties to the mix. Several new hotel openings expected in 2026, including properties under the Faena and Grand Hyatt banners, expand accommodation options significantly.

Al-Baha rounds out the programme with highland forests and traditional honey markets in one of the less-visited corners of the country.

Practical notes for international visitors

The programme runs concurrently with warm-to-hot conditions across most of the country — Jeddah and the Red Sea coast average 33–38°C in July and August. Aseer and Taif are the natural choices for those sensitive to heat. Our guide to visiting Saudi Arabia in June covers the weather and packing implications in detail.

International visitors entering on a tourist eVisa can join domestic summer programmes without restriction. The eVisa is valid for 90 days and covers multiple entries. For eligibility by nationality and application steps, see the Saudi Arabia visa guide.

How Saudi Summer compares to previous seasons

Saudi Summer has grown substantially since its first iteration in 2021. That initial programme operated across two regions with fewer than 100 tourism products and was primarily aimed at domestic visitors as international tourism remained limited post-pandemic. By 2024, the programme had expanded to cover three regions and attracted a significant international component, particularly from neighbouring Gulf states. The 2026 edition — five regions, 550+ products, 140+ partners — reflects the maturation of Saudi Arabia’s events-and-tourism machine, which now operates year-round rather than confining events to the cooler winter months.

The inclusion of Al-Baha and the expanded Aseer Season signal a deliberate push to distribute visitor volumes beyond Riyadh and Jeddah. Both regions offer an authentically different Saudi experience — highland landscapes, terraced agriculture, and traditional architecture — that contrasts with the urban-entertainment focus of the city seasons.

Booking and planning

Most Saudi Summer event tickets are available through the Saudi Tourism Authority’s official visitSaudi.com portal and through local ticketing platforms. International visitors should check their activities before arriving as popular events and outdoor experiences in Aseer sell out quickly, particularly on weekends. Accommodation in Abha fills fast during peak summer weekends; booking at least four to six weeks in advance is advisable for the Aseer region specifically.