Cannes Lions Organiser Launches New LIONS Riyadh Festival for 2027
The three-day festival will run from December 6th to 8th at King Abdullah Financial District.
Tahaluf, in partnership with LIONS and the Ministry of Media, has announced the launch of LIONS Riyadh, a new three-day festival focused on creative marketing effectiveness.
The event will take place from December 6th to 8th, 2027 at King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, bringing together chief marketing officers, creative leaders, agencies, brands and emerging talent from the region and abroad.
The programme will cover creative excellence, effectiveness, culture and the future of the marketing industry, while providing a platform for Middle Eastern talent, ideas and storytelling to connect with global networks.
“LIONS has always been a global platform for the world's best creative thinking and marketing effectiveness. Through LIONS Riyadh, we’re providing access to global benchmarks, intelligence, and learning, while connecting regional talent and ambition with global experience and opportunity—supporting the next phase of growth for brands, businesses and the wider creative economy,” said Philip Thomas, Chair of LIONS.
LIONS Riyadh will form part of a wider network of regional platforms designed to complement Cannes Lions by extending LIONS programming beyond the annual festival in France.
Cannes Lions will remain the central global event within the LIONS ecosystem, while Dubai Lynx will continue as the established Middle East awards platform. LIONS Riyadh is intended to sit alongside both, with a broader focus on convening the marketing industry, developing talent and connecting regional creative work with international expertise.
