WWE on Monday officially announced that the 2026 Royal Rumble will be held in Riyadh, marking the first time the prestigious event will take place outside the United States.
The Royal Rumble, one of WWE's most iconic premium live events, will be a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between WWE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has expanded in recent years.
Traditionally ranked behind only WrestleMania in terms of prestige, the Royal Rumble features both men's and women's matches, where 30 participants battle to eliminate each other over the top rope, with the last person standing earning a coveted championship opportunity at WrestleMania.
While WWE did not reveal the specific venue or date for the 2026 Royal Rumble, the announcement highlights Riyadh as the host city for the 39th annual event, underscoring the growing global reach of WWE’s programming.
This year’s Royal Rumble will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on February 1.
The announcement also coincides with the debut of WWE's "Monday Night Raw" on Netflix, which is expected to help the company expand its global fanbase through the streaming platform’s vast international reach.
“WWE is a global enterprise and it only made sense to expand our relationship with the Kingdom by bringing one of our biggest annual events to Riyadh in January of 2026,” WWE president Nick Khan said.
WWE’s relationship with Saudi Arabia dates back to 2014 when the company first began promoting non-televised events in the country.
A more formal partnership began in 2018 with the "Greatest Royal Rumble" pay-per-view event, marking the start of a 10-year agreement between WWE and Saudi Arabia that runs through 2027.
Since then, Saudi Arabia has hosted major events such as Crown Jewel, Elimination Chamber, King & Queen of the Ring, Night of Champions, SmackDown and Monday Night Raw.
The partnership faced criticism from various corners, with allegations of sportswashing due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record, particularly regarding women's and LGBTQ+ rights.
Despite the controversy, the Saudi government has emphasised the positive impact of such events on the country’s entertainment sector.
“Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Royal Rumble for the first time outside North America reflects the General Entertainment Authority’s ongoing commitment to bringing the world’s largest and most important entertainment events to the Kingdom," Saudi Arabian Royal Court adviser and General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh said in a statement.
"Through this partnership with WWE, we aim to enhance the entertainment sector and deliver a transformative experience that attracts a wide audience,” he added.