Canelo, WWE Stay on Saudi Sports Calendar Despite U.S. Security Alerts
The U.S. has issued multiple security alerts for citizens in Saudi Arabia following continued chaos in the country due to the U.S.–Iran war. But several major sporting events are still scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks as a part of the country’s Riyadh Season 2026.
“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance due to the complex security environment. Be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions,” read an alert Sunday from the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Saudi Arabia.
The following day, the Department of State sent a travel alert that gave a similar warning to citizens in the Middle East region.
The warnings come more than a week after Houthi rebels, a group backed by Iran, launched a missile strike on Riyadh’s international airport that killed 12 people. The airport was also closed for more than a week before reopening Sunday, though several airlines have continued to cancel flights to Saudi Arabia’s capital.
But Riyadh Season, a 10-week event starting Oct. 21 featuring several entertainment experiences, including sporting events, is still pushing forward—for now.
The Six Kings Slam, an exhibition tennis tournament featuring Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz that was originally scheduled to begin on the opening day of Riyadh Season, was postponed to December due to “organizational and logistical challenges.” However, there have been no changes to the boxing match between Canelo Álvarez and Christian Mbilli on Oct. 31 or the WWE premium live event Crown Jewel on Nov. 7.
“Canelo reached out and told me he’ll still fight in Riyadh this October, no matter what happens. He fears nothing,” Saudi government official Turki Alalshikh wrote on X last week. He added that “hard times reveal true friends.”
It’s unclear if there are any contractual reschedule or cancel stipulations for these events, but any cancellation would likely be costly. After Crown Jewel, WWE—which has had a partnership with Saudi Arabia since 2018—is scheduled to hold WrestleMania 43, its flagship event in April 2027. Morgan Stanley “conservatively” estimates that WWE is receiving $150 million in site fees for WrestleMania 43.
UFC, whose parent company TKO also owns WWE, has an event in Riyadh on Dec. 5, which CEO Dana White said on Saturday remains planned as scheduled.
“We’re going,” White said.
There are also multiple motorsports events scheduled in Saudi Arabia that have not been moved: the FIA Extreme H World Cup from Oct. 29–31, Rally Saudi Arabia from Nov. 11–14, and Formula E from Dec. 18–19.
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