MDLBEAST’s immersive One Thousand and One Nights-inspired festival, A Thousand and One, returns to Riyadh’s Banban site on Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30, 2026, with tickets now on sale through NOFOMO starting at SAR309 for a two-day pass. The festival’s second edition follows its April 2025 debut, when four themed stages and a lineup that included DJ Snake and R3hab drew crowds from across the region.
The 2026 run, originally set for April and shifted to October as Saudi Arabia’s cooler outdoor season begins, promises more than 70 artists across four themed stages inspired by the folktale that gives the festival its name.
A Second Edition, Pushed From April to October
MDLBEAST’s October 2026 events calendar now lists A Thousand and One for October 29-30, 2026, in Riyadh. The festival was previously announced for April 2026 at the same Banban venue, then shifted to the autumn window as the Kingdom’s outdoor events calendar expands into its cooler months. The festival’s own Instagram account confirms the new dates, posting “29-30 OCT ’26 Riyadh” alongside its teaser imagery.
The October slot places A Thousand and One at the front of MDLBEAST’s late-year run. The XP Music Futures conference follows November 26-28 in Riyadh, and the flagship SOUNDSTORM 26 is scheduled for December 3-4 at the same Banban site. A Thousand and One now leads that three-event sequence, opening the late-autumn outdoor window for the Kingdom’s electronic music calendar.
The 2025 debut was held April 24-25 at Banban, on the same site that hosts Soundstorm’s underground section. The site returns unchanged for the 2026 edition, with the festival’s folktale spine and four-stage layout carried over from the debut year.
Four Themed Stages Drawn From Folktales
The festival’s production is built around four themed stages, each carrying a different tale, sound, and setting. Visit Saudi’s A Thousand and One festival page describes them as “four themed stages inspired by timeless stories,” while Arab News outlined how each carries its own sub-theme under the main concept.
Qasr takes its name from the Arabic word for palace and is built around a sultan’s palace and Arabian architecture, with electronic and experimental sounds taking over the booth. Qafilah, named for a camel caravan, draws on Saudi Arabia’s trading heritage and hosts tech house and melodic beats. Bustan takes the form of a lush garden inspired by the ancient Kalila Wa Dimna tales, with mixed genres playing under the trees. Sahaab floats above the festival grounds, its imagery drawn from Aladdin’s flying carpet.
Beyond the four stages, the festival also features the Bizarre Bazaar, described by Arab News as “a reimagined Middle Eastern souq where music, food, art, and culture collide.” The 2025 edition’s Bizarre Bazaar drew visitors between sets, with regional food stalls and art installations framing the music programming.
The 2025 festival used the same four-stage layout. The 2026 lineup and stage programming have not been announced, with the organizer pointing to “more than 70 artists across multiple immersive stages” ahead of the reveal.
| Stage | Theme |
|---|---|
| Qafilah | Camel caravans and Saudi Arabia’s trading heritage |
| Qasr | Sultan’s palace with Arabian architecture |
| Bustan | Lush garden inspired by the Kalila Wa Dimna tales |
| Sahaab | Aladdin’s flying carpet |
The 2025 Debut That Set the Bar
The festival’s first edition, held April 24-25, 2025, drew international headliners and an audience from across the region. Arab News reported at the time that “crowds from across the world flocked to attend A Thousand and One, MDLBEAST’s new festival concept, where global musicians like DJ Snake and R3hab have come to Saudi Arabia to perform.” Other confirmed acts on the 2025 lineup included Salvatore Ganacci, Mahmut Orhan, Arielle Free, and Artbat.
Attendees told Arab News the festival felt like a different kind of event from MDLBEAST’s flagship Soundstorm. Saudi attendee Fares Alkudsi, who came specifically for DJ Snake, said “the music scene has been good here ever since, but before 2019 there was not much attention to it, so now they’re giving a lot of attention to the youth.” Syrian-born, Saudi-raised William Shakkour compared the debut to the first Soundstorm: “It was basic, simple, and fantastic, so I think in the next versions, it will be better than this one.”
Vinyl Mode, who closed the Sahaab stage on the festival’s opening night, called the concept “a very new concept” in comments to Arab News, going on to describe it as “a new moment, a new feeling, a new experience.”
What makes it special is that it’s a new moment, a new feeling, a new experience.
The 2025 lineup spanned more than 70 artists, with NOFOMO’s archived festival page listing a count of 74 acts across the two days. Festivalgoers included both Saudi residents and expatriates from Europe, the Levant, and South Asia, with attendees from Bosnia, Syria, and elsewhere telling Arab News the mix of international and regional talent drew them in.
Tickets, Tiers, and the 40% Discount Window
Tickets are listed on the A Thousand and One 2026 tickets and event details page on NOFOMO, with the basic two-day festival pass priced at SAR309. A four-person bundle of two-day passes is listed at SAR1,049, and both early tiers are currently 40 percent off for a limited time.
Higher-tier tickets are listed at SAR919 for VIB access, SAR3,119 for the VIB Bundle, SAR1,529.40 for Backstage, and SAR2,749 for the Backstage Bundle. A Qafilah Stage Balcona experience is listed at SAR33,299, with all ticket tiers covering both festival days.
Access to the festival requires the NOFOMO mobile app, available on the App Store and Google Play, which has been the ticketing platform for MDLBEAST’s recent events. The festival is strictly for guests aged 18 and over, matching the policy enforced at the April 2025 debut.
- Two-day festival pass: SAR309 (limited-time 40 percent off)
- Two-day festival pass bundle for four: SAR1,049 (limited-time 40 percent off)
- VIB: SAR919
- VIB Bundle: SAR3,119
- Backstage: SAR1,529.40
- Backstage Bundle: SAR2,749
- Qafilah Stage Balcona: SAR33,299
What to Know Before the Gates Open
The festival’s operational setup carries over from the 2025 edition. Gates open at 7 PM and close at 4 AM, with last entry at 2 AM, according to NOFOMO’s archived festival information. The site is Banban, the same MDLBEAST festival venue used for Soundstorm’s underground programming, and is strictly for guests aged 18 and over.
The full 2026 lineup and stage concepts have not been announced. The festival’s teaser materials point to “more than 70 artists across multiple immersive stages,” with the roster to be revealed before the October dates. Festival organizers have not confirmed whether the Bizarre Bazaar will return for the second edition.
VIP and VIB parking information, along with operational updates, is published on MDLBEAST’s festival FAQ and operational pages, first set up for the April 2025 debut. A Thousand and One is the first of three MDLBEAST outdoor events confirmed for the second half of 2026, ahead of XP Music Futures in November and SOUNDSTORM 26 in December.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is A Thousand and One 2026 taking place?
The festival is scheduled for Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30, 2026, at Banban in Riyadh. The dates were shifted from an earlier April 2026 announcement.
How much are A Thousand and One 2026 tickets?
Two-day festival passes start at SAR309 on NOFOMO. A four-person bundle is listed at SAR1,049, and both early tiers are 40 percent off for a limited time. Higher tiers reach SAR33,299 for the Qafilah Stage Balcona experience.
What is the age limit for the festival?
The festival is strictly for guests aged 18 and over. All ticket tiers, from the basic pass to the Balcona experience, enforce this age policy.
How many artists and stages are there?
The 2026 edition promises more than 70 artists across four themed stages: Qafilah, Qasr, Bustan, and Sahaab. The full lineup and stage programming will be announced ahead of the October dates.
Where can tickets be purchased?
Tickets are sold through the NOFOMO platform, with access via the NOFOMO mobile app on the App Store and Google Play. NOFOMO has served as the ticketing platform for MDLBEAST’s recent events.
