The Six Kings Slam returns to Saudi Arabia on 27 December, when six of tennis’s biggest names will chase the crown as part of Riyadh Season 2026.
Driving the news: The third edition of the exhibition tournament will run for three nights, from 27 to 30 December. Organisers had planned the event for 21–24 October. However, Riyadh Season shifted the dates after it reviewed the logistical and organisational requirements. The aim: deliver a sporting experience that matches fans’ expectations. Saudi Aramco presents the tournament.
The lineup: Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Germany’s Alexander Zverev headline the field. Americans Taylor Fritz and Learner Tien and Australia’s Alex de Minaur complete the six. Tien replaces Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who withdrew because of injury. Sinner won both previous editions and beat Alcaraz in each final.
Three Nights of Knockout Tennis
The tournament uses a knockout format. Quarterfinals open the event on 27 December. Semifinals follow on 28 December. The third-place match and the final then close the tournament on 30 December. As a result, fans watch elite matchups on every night of play.
Zoom in: The field mixes record-breaking experience with rising talent. Djokovic owns a men’s record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, and Alcaraz won this year’s Australian Open. Meanwhile, Fritz and Zverev make their second appearances, and de Minaur debuts.
The stars clearly like the venue. When organisers first revealed the lineup in July, Alcaraz said, “I’m excited to return to Riyadh for another Six Kings Slam.” Likewise, Djokovic praised the reception he has received in Riyadh.
The event also carries history. In 2024, Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal in what proved to be Nadal’s final competitive exhibition before retirement. In addition, Netflix will stream the matches live to subscribers worldwide at no extra cost.
By the numbers:
- Players: Six, across three nights of knockout play (27, 28 and 30 December).
- Purse (2025 edition): $13.5 million, or SAR 50.6 million.
- Guaranteed fee per player (2025): $1.5 million, or SAR 5.6 million.
- Champion’s total (2025): $6 million, or SAR 22.5 million, which topped any Grand Slam prize that year.
- Riyadh Season 2025 visitors: 17 million by the season’s close.
- Saudi tourists in 2025: 122.6 million, up 5.8%.
- Tourism spending in 2025: SAR 303.7 billion ($81 billion), up 7.0%.
- Inbound tourism: 29.3 million international arrivals, generating SAR 176.6 billion ($47.1 billion).
- Domestic tourism: 93.3 million trips, with SAR 127.1 billion ($33.9 billion) in spending.
- 2030 target: 150 million visitors a year.
Riyadh Season Turns Sport into a Tourism Magnet
Why it matters: The Six Kings Slam shows how Saudi Arabia uses world-class sport to attract visitors. Riyadh Season 2026 opened on 21 October and runs for 10 weeks. The seventh edition, themed “Big Time,” also features boxing, wrestling and UFC bouts.
Arabic-language coverage highlights the same strategy. Saudi outlet Okaz said the tournament’s return confirms Riyadh’s standing as a prominent destination for global sporting events. It also pointed to the Kingdom’s growing interest in hosting top events and stars.
The big picture: The approach is working. Riyadh Season 2025 reached one million visitors in just 13 days. Nationwide, Saudi Arabia welcomed 122.6 million tourists in 2025, and they spent SAR 303.7 billion ($81 billion). Moreover, non-religious travel became the largest purpose for inbound overnight visits, at 52%. Tourism also supports more than one million jobs.
As a result, the Kingdom moves closer to its Vision 2030 goal of 150 million visitors a year. That goal includes 70 million international and 80 million domestic tourists. The Kingdom already passed its original 100 million target in 2023, six years early. Notably, WrestleMania 43 will also take place in Riyadh, the first WrestleMania outside North America.
What’s next: Ticket sales for the Six Kings Slam will open shortly through the official WeBook platform. Meanwhile, hospitality providers and hotel operators across Riyadh report surging advance bookings as international visitors plan their December trips to the Saudi capital.
