WWE is taking the Royal Rumble international for the first time ever and has officially announced the pay-per-view event will take place in Saudi Arabia.
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The Royal Rumble, one of its biggest annual events, will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in January 2026.
This marks the first time the Royal Rumble will take place outside of North America, and only the second time in its history it has been held outside the United States (the inaugural event took place in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1988).
The 2026 Royal Rumble will be part of Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Season celebrations, further solidifying the country's growing role in WWE's global expansion.
"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," WWE President Nick Khan said in a statement. "The Royal Rumble is a spectacle that attracts fans from around the world, and we are excited to bring it to Saudi Arabia in 2026."
Saudi Arabia has hosted several major WWE events in recent years, including Crown Jewel, The Greatest Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, Night of Champions, and King and Queen of the Ring.
WWE's partnership with Saudi Arabia began in 2018 with a landmark ten-year deal, later expanded to include two premium live events each year. The deal has also led to WWE SmackDown and RAW tapings in the Kingdom, and in 2024, the company opened the WWE Experience in Riyadh Season.
Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, welcomed the Royal Rumble's arrival, emphasizing the country's commitment to bringing world-class events to Saudi Arabia. "Hosting the Royal Rumble for the first time outside of North America is a testament to the General Entertainment Authority's dedication to delivering transformative experiences and attracting global audiences to the Kingdom," he said.
The announcement follows WWE's recent success in Saudi Arabia. This year's Crown Jewel event was hailed as a major success, setting a record for the most-watched WWE event from the Kingdom, with a 28% increase in viewership compared to the previous year.
The event was also sold out at Riyadh's Mohammed Abd Arena, marking the sixth consecutive sold-out Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.
However, the decision to host the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia is not without controversy. WWE's ongoing ties to the Saudi regime have drawn criticism, particularly due to concerns over the country's human rights record.
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Several WWE stars have either declined to perform at events in Saudi Arabia or have been prevented from doing so, raising questions about how the 2026 Royal Rumble will be received by the roster.
Despite these issues, the move to bring the Royal Rumble to Riyadh further cements Saudi Arabia's growing influence in WWE's global strategy. It also opens the door for additional major WWE events to be held in the region in the future, as the company continues to expand its presence in international markets.
While no official date or start time for the 2026 Royal Rumble has been announced, the event's historic location and timing as part of Riyadh Season promise to make it a landmark occasion in WWE history.
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