On Monday, WWE announced that Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the 2026 Royal Rumble as part of their ongoing collaboration with the Kingdom.

The Royal Rumble is a signature event for WWE, typically considered the second-most prestigious event in the wrestling world after WrestleMania. This will mark the 39th Royal Rumble and the first time it’s held outside the U.S. The event features both men’s and women’s matches in which 30 participants strive to eliminate each other by throwing them over the top rope for a shot at the WrestleMania championship.

WWE has yet to announce the specific venue in Saudi Arabia or the date for the 2026 Royal Rumble. This year’s event is scheduled for February 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The announcement about Riyadh coincides with WWE’s debut of “Monday Night Raw” on Netflix, which is expected to enhance their ability to reach an international audience due to Netflix’s global platform.

“WWE is a global company, and it was a natural progression to extend our partnership with the Kingdom by bringing one of our most significant annual events to Riyadh in January 2026,” WWE President Nick Khan shared in a statement.

WWE began holding non-televised events in Saudi Arabia in 2014, but the collaboration grew in 2018 with the “Greatest Royal Rumble” pay-per-view, kicking off a 10-year partnership that runs through 2027.

Since then, WWE has hosted major events like Crown Jewel, Elimination Chamber, King & Queen of the Ring, Night of Champions, SmackDown, and Monday Night RAW in Saudi Arabia. Initially, this partnership faced criticism and accusations of sports washing due to concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, especially regarding women’s and LGBTQ rights.

According to Turki Alalshikh, adviser to the Saudi Royal Court and chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, “The Royal Rumble coming to Saudi Arabia for the first time outside of North America signifies our ongoing effort to bring top entertainment events to the Kingdom. This partnership with WWE aims to boost the entertainment sector and provide an amazing experience for a diverse audience.”