As winter sets in, Riyadh transforms into a sweeping festival city, where headline sport, mega-music, design-led nightlife, and immersive zones converge. From late November through early 2026, Saudi’s capital invites visitors to dive into nights that sparkle, zones that thrill, and evenings that linger long after midnight. Here are the essential experiences to lock into your calendar.

Under the dazzling lights of the Arabian Gulf, the 2025 World Cruise Awards unfolded last weekend in a glittering gala at Exhibition World Bahrain — a venue transformed into a celebration of ocean-going journeys, luxury voyages, and the dream of exploration at sea. On Saturday evening, cruise-industry leaders, travel editors, seafarers, and luxury-travel enthusiasts gathered in black tie and national dress for pre-dinner cocktails, a sumptuous gala dinner, and the crowning of the world’s most outstanding cruise ships, cruise lines, and maritime experiences.

Seabourn, the leader in luxury cruises and expedition travel, unveiled its exclusive annual “Explore More Event,” featuring exceptional savings and offers on most 2026 through 2028 worldwide ocean voyages and expeditions to Alaska, Antarctica, Japan, the Mediterranean, and more. Available now until February 17, 2026, Seabourn’s “Explore More Event” includes the following exclusive benefits:

The Global Tourism Economy Forum (“GTEF” or “Forum”), an international platform dedicated to promoting the sustainable development of the global tourism economy, will hold its 2025 edition from December 15 to 17 in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. Under the theme “New Quality Productive Forces: Powering the Global Tourism Economy”, the Forum will gather over 1,000 guests from five continents and more than 30 countries and regions, including the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, heads of international organizations, government officials, ministers of culture and tourism, executives from Fortune Global 500 companies, renowned entrepreneurs, and experts. Together, they will forge a new stage for open cooperation and jointly chart a future blueprint for the global tourism economy.