26 Apr 2025
Yes, we know, your air conditioner is your best friend and the couch has accepted your body shape as its soulmate. But before you declare yourself fully horizontal for the summer, Saudi Arabia’s cultural scene is heating up. This May is packed with everything from international design fairs and New Media art extravaganzas to stand-up comedy. Whether you are a football fanatic, an art lover, or simply in it for the ‘vibes’, there is something worth brushing your hair for.
Downtown Design Riyadh
When? May 20–23
Where? Jax District Biennale (B1), Riyadh
If you have ever looked at a chair and thought, “Hmm, this could be more intentional,” then welcome to your personal Mecca. Downtown Design Riyadh makes its grand debut this May, showcasing all things sleek, chic, and probably too expensive to spill coffee on. Set in the trendy JAX District, the fair gathers the Middle East’s finest contemporary design under one very tasteful roof. Expect limited-edition works, painfully cool installations, and conversations that include words like “aesthetic language” and “spatial dialogue” without irony.
Aligned with Vision 2030, this is more than a furniture show — it is a statement. About design. About culture. About how you really should buy that modular sofa.
AFC Champions League Elite Final
When? May 3
Where? King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah
You may not know what “offside” means, and frankly, you shouldn't be expected to — but this is the match to watch. The AFC Champions League Elite Final is not only a massive event in Asian club football, it is also a perfect excuse to scream at strangers in public. Win-win. The stakes? Oh, nothing major — just a slot at the FIFA Club World Cup and intercontinental glory.
So, whether you are a true fan or just tagging along for the snacks, this is a piece of Saudi sports history in the making. Just don't wear the wrong team’s colours. Not unless you are a fan of chaos.
Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World
When? Until July 19
Where? Diriyah Art Future, Riyadh
Machines, pixels, and deeply existential vibes. Maknana is not your average art exhibition — it is an entire mood. Curated by Dr. Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis, this show explores the heady intersection of technology and art through the lens of Arab New Media artists who have been busy turning glitches, wires, and cultural commentary into mesmerising works of art.
Expect an intellectual workout. Think automation, autonomy, ripples, and glitch — the kind of words you pretend to understand at gallery openings while sipping flat soda from a plastic flute. It is edgy. It is high-concept. It is worth visiting.
Kevin Hart – Acting My Age
When? May 1
Where? Abadi Aljohar Arena, Jeddah
Is there anything more universally soothing than laughing at someone else’s childhood trauma? Kevin Hart knows this. His ‘Acting My Age’ tour hits Jeddah this May, and if his Riyadh stop earlier this year is anything to go by, you might want to bring tissues — for the tears, and also possibly your mascara.
Expect fast-paced punchlines, Hollywood-level charisma, and plenty of jokes that are far from being politically correct. It is Kevin Hart. You already know what you are getting, and you are getting it good.
Adaptability Exhibition
When? Until May 20
Where? Riyadh SAMOCA @ JAX
Forget everything you know about clay. This is not your grandma’s pottery. The Adaptability exhibition reimagines ceramics as a medium of raw, emotional storytelling — and no, that is not an overstatement. With works by 11 artists from across the Arab world, it explores how ceramic art can reflect our inner turmoils, social connections, and architectural heritage. All via mud. Glorious, meaningful mud.
Curator Samer Yamani puts it best: "It shows the similarity between clay and humans: We both are so strong, but fragile, and the higher the fire gets, the stronger we get — we adapt to new circumstances and new things happening in life; we are able to innovate and to be present.”
Groove on the Grass
When? May 2
Where? Juman Park, KAEC
Pack your glitter, pretend you have been to Berlin, and say things like “this track slaps” with conviction. Groove on the Grass returns to Saudi, bringing its signature blend of Middle Eastern beats, global DJ sets, and the smell of falafel into the lush lawns of Juman Park.
Expect local legends like Dish Dash and Vinyl Mode, plus international headliners like Thorben Diekmann (Shkoon) and Sébastien Léger. It is going to be loud, and full of people who enjoy minimal techno as much as you do.
Instagram: @grooveonthegrass.ksa; @sebastien_leger; @_shkoon
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