The MDLBeast Festival is the music event that changed the scale of live entertainment in the Kingdom. Staged as part of Riyadh Season, it runs for three to four days across six theaters, bringing singers from many countries together with international DJs and electronic music headliners. Alongside the concerts sit local art exhibitions and entertainment shows drawing visitors from inside and outside the country.
What the MDLBeast platform actually is
MDLBeast is broader than one weekend. It operates as a creative platform showcasing local, regional, and international talent through live and online experiences. It started in the Kingdom and expanded outward, with a stated aim of supporting artists and building experiences that keep them engaged.
That mix of music, art, and community sits alongside other large-scale events covered in our guide to Saudi festivals and events.
The six stages
Each stage is built for a different kind of night.
- Big Beast: the main stage, holding more than forty-five thousand people, designed to blend Saudi cultural motifs with international stage engineering.
- Underground Beast 1 and 2: two stages for major international and local acts.
- Down Beast: a calmer space away from the heaviest sound, hosting DJs, musicians, and local talent.
- Saudi Beast: reserved for emerging Saudi artists.
- Middle Town: the central connector, with restaurants, shops, street performances, and an open-air art museum.
Getting there has become easier since the opening of the Riyadh Metro and visitors often combine the trip with a stop at Riyadh Front.
Soundstorm and XP Music Futures
Soundstorm is the annual electronic music festival held in Banban, Riyadh, with a minimum attendance age of sixteen. XP Music Futures runs a three-day program in the JAX District in Diriyah, covering industry policy, music business development, talent showcases and public awareness.
Editions and attendance
The first edition in 2019 ran three days across six stages with around one hundred local, Arab, and international DJs, and roughly four hundred thousand attendees. That year the organizers built what the Guinness Book of World Records recognized as the world’s longest temporary stage.
In 2020, with COVID-19 restrictions in place, the Frequencies project delivered a virtual edition, and MDLBeast Records launched as a music production, publishing, and distribution brand. The 2021 edition introduced XP Music Futures, and Soundstorm returned that December with more than two hundred artists and about 750,000 visitors across four days.
For a different side of the country’s music programming, see the Masterpieces of Saudi Music concert, the Winter at Tantora Festival in AlUla, and the heritage forms covered in traditional Saudi dances.
Key takeaways
- MDLBeast runs three to four days across six themed stages during Riyadh Season.
- The first edition in 2019 drew around 400,000 attendees.
- Soundstorm 2021 hosted over 200 artists and about 750,000 visitors across four days.
- XP Music Futures runs in the JAX District in Diriyah.
FAQs Related to MDLBeast Festival
Where is the MDLBeast Festival held?
In Riyadh, as part of Riyadh Season. The Soundstorm edition takes place in Banban.
What is the minimum age for Soundstorm?
Visitors must be at least sixteen years old to attend.
How large is the main stage?
Big Beast accommodates more than forty-five thousand people and hosts the headline performances.
What is XP Music Futures?
A three-day industry program in the JAX District in Diriyah covering regulation, music industry development, and talent showcases.
The bottom line
Attendance on this scale also shows up in coverage of other Riyadh Season draws such as MrBeast Land.
MDLBeast turned a single weekend into a year-round music platform, complete with a record label and an industry conference. Event listings for the wider season are published by the Riyadh Season organizers.
