The Royal Rumble is WWE’s official start to WrestleMania season and is one of the biggest live events of the year. In a historic move for WWE, the 2026 Royal Rumble will be held in Saudi Arabia.
It’s the first time ever that this event will happen outside of North America. Multiple sources have confirmed the news, which PWInsider was the first to report. This is part of WWE’s global growth strategy and shows a strong relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Since 2018, WWE has held 12 live events and two TV tapings in the country as part of a 10-year deal worth over a billion dollars to run through 2028. Events have included exclusive productions like the “Greatest Royal Rumble” and the WWE Experience attraction, which is a dark ride, memorabilia displays, and themed experiences like an Undertaker escape room.
Royal Rumble could be first of many major WWE events in foreign territories
This move translates to a big shift in WWE’s approach to international markets. This could be the start of other big events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam being held outside of the US. WWE’s international ventures have been met with mixed reactions due to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. But the financial and cultural opportunities keep the partnership going.
The 2025 Royal Rumble, however, will be on February 1st in Indianapolis. It will have the men’s and women’s Rumble matches. And an Undisputed WWE Championship Ladder Match between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens already announced.
By bringing the Royal Rumble to Saudi Arabia, WWE picks the battle to reshape its event strategy and promises a monumental WrestleMania season kickoff in 2026.
In the meantime, the official announcement of the 2026 Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia is expected during the WWE Raw premiere on Netflix this Monday.
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