Riyadh is set to welcome another celebration of international sounds and cultural exchange as European Music Week Riyadh 2026 begins this week. Returning for its third edition, the festival will bring a diverse lineup of European musicians to the Saudi capital, creating a platform where artists, audiences and musical traditions from across Europe and Saudi Arabia can come together.
The week-long event will take place from Wednesday, September 9 to Wednesday, September 16, at The Warehouse in Riyadh’s JAX District. Organised by the European Union Delegation to Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the embassies of EU Member States, the Saudi Music Commission and the Saudi Music Hub, the festival continues to strengthen cultural connections between Europe and the Kingdom through the universal language of music.
The programme will feature five concerts representing a range of musical styles, from contemporary jazz and chamber music to folk-inspired sounds and big-band performances. The opening night on September 9 will feature Italian musicians Manuel Petti and Marco Molino, setting the tone for a week of cross-cultural performances.
On September 10, Czech cimbalom soloist Anna Habancová will take the stage alongside the Saudi Music Hub Orchestra, offering audiences a distinctive collaboration between European musical heritage and Saudi talent. The programme will continue on September 14 with Malta’s Big Band Brothers, a 17-piece ensemble that has been performing since 2005.
Austria will be represented on September 15 by Trianima, a fusion chamber music group featuring clarinetist Johanna Gossner, cellist Marilies Guschlbauer and harpist Isabel Goller. The festival will conclude on September 16 with the Christos Yerolatsis Quartet from Cyprus, bringing contemporary jazz to the closing night.
Throughout the week, audiences can expect a rich variety of genres, including classical, jazz, pop and folk. The event will also highlight the importance of collaboration, with visiting European artists sharing the stage and creative space with musicians and audiences in Saudi Arabia.
European Music Week first launched in Riyadh in 2023, while its second edition was held in 2025, featuring artists from countries including Italy, Austria, Portugal, Germany and Greece. The return of the festival for a third edition reflects the growing role of cultural exchange and live music in Saudi Arabia’s expanding creative landscape.
All performances are scheduled to begin at 8pm, and registration for the event is free. As Riyadh continues to establish itself as a destination for global cultural experiences, European Music Week offers another opportunity for audiences to discover new artists, traditions and sounds from across Europe while celebrating the growing energy of Saudi Arabia’s music scene.
