Athar Festival 2025 is set to be one of the most exciting events in Saudi Arabia’s creative calendar. Returning for its third edition on October 21–22, the festival has announced a new venue, an expanded programme, and an impressive lineup of speakers, promising a unique experience for professionals, enthusiasts, and creative minds from across the region.
The festival continues to celebrate the evolving marketing, advertising, and creative industries in Saudi Arabia, making it a must-attend event for anyone involved in these sectors. This year, the organisers have focused on providing attendees with immersive experiences, opportunities for networking, and cutting-edge insights from industry leaders.
A New Venue at JAX District
Athar Festival 2025 will be hosted for the first time at the JAX District, located within the Diriyah Biennale Foundation. This new venue provides over 6,000 square meters of space, allowing the festival to expand its activities, stages, and experiences. The choice of JAX District is strategic, offering a modern, versatile space that reflects the festival’s ambition to position itself at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s creative economy.
The venue is designed to accommodate a variety of festival elements, from keynote sessions and panel discussions to exhibitions, interactive workshops, and entertainment zones. The open, flexible layout ensures that attendees can move seamlessly between stages while engaging with exhibitors and participating in activities tailored to their interests.
With the new venue, Athar Festival 2025 promises an environment that is both inspiring and conducive to collaboration. It underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to nurturing creativity, innovation, and knowledge sharing within the region’s rapidly growing creative industry.
Expanded Programme with Five Dynamic Stages
This year’s festival programme has been expanded to include five distinct stages, each catering to a specific segment of the creative sector. These stages will offer a combination of expert talks, hands-on workshops, and interactive experiences designed to engage attendees and inspire innovation.
Strategic Stage
This stage will host high-level panels and keynote speeches from prominent industry leaders. Discussions will focus on business strategy, marketing innovations, and the future of creative industries in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Spotlight Stage
The Spotlight Stage will offer in-depth sessions on emerging trends, tools, and methodologies, helping professionals stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing market.
Saudi Gamer Arena
Reflecting the Kingdom’s growing interest in gaming and esports, this stage will feature competitions, showcases, and discussions about the gaming ecosystem. It’s designed to attract enthusiasts, developers, and marketers interested in digital entertainment.
Community Stage
Dedicated to workshops, masterclasses, and community-led sessions, the Community Stage encourages attendees to engage directly with experts and peers, fostering hands-on learning experiences.
Courtyard Stage
This stage will create a lively festival atmosphere with live music, wellness activities, comedy, and performances, offering a more relaxed, interactive experience for attendees.
This expanded programme ensures that Athar Festival 2025 caters to a wide range of interests, from professional development and strategic insights to entertainment and interactive learning.
Four New Content Streams
In 2025, Athar Festival introduces four new content streams to reflect the changing landscape of the creative industry. Each stream provides a focused approach to understanding and exploring specific sectors within creativity and marketing.
Creative Impact
This stream focuses on brand storytelling, advertising, and marketing strategies, helping attendees understand how creative ideas can influence audiences and drive results.
Future Forward
Exploring innovations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven marketing, this stream is aimed at professionals interested in leveraging technology to enhance creativity and strategy.
Screen and Influence
Concentrating on film production, content creation, influencer marketing, and media distribution, this stream examines how visual content and digital platforms are reshaping the industry.
Luxury and Lifestyle
This stream is tailored for marketing professionals working in fashion, travel, hospitality, and premium experiences, exploring the nuances of marketing high-end brands in competitive markets.
The introduction of these content streams ensures that attendees can tailor their festival experience according to their professional focus and areas of interest.
An Impressive Lineup of Speakers
Athar Festival 2025 features a global lineup of over 150 speakers, bringing together diverse perspectives from various sectors, including marketing, advertising, technology, and creative industries. The festival’s speaker selection reflects a commitment to showcasing knowledge and expertise from around the world while highlighting regional talent.
Attendees can expect talks from influential figures in the creative and marketing fields, offering insights into global trends, innovative strategies, and the future of creativity in the Middle East. Discussions will cover a broad spectrum of topics, from artificial intelligence in marketing and brand innovation to influencer culture and content creation.
The speaker lineup promises a wealth of knowledge and experience, allowing attendees to learn from thought leaders, exchange ideas, and explore collaborative opportunities.
New Hubs for Networking and Innovation
Athar Festival 2025 introduces several new hubs designed to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and networking among participants. These hubs offer interactive and engaging spaces for attendees to connect, share ideas, and explore potential partnerships.
Talent Hub
This hub connects companies with aspiring professionals, offering opportunities for mentorship, internships, and career development.
Ruwad Hub
Highlighting breakthrough agencies and entrepreneurs, this space encourages knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation.
Saudi Gamer Arena
A dedicated space for gaming and esports enthusiasts, providing live competitions, showcases, and opportunities to learn about the growing gaming ecosystem.
Networking Hub
Bringing together industry leaders and global delegations, this hub creates opportunities for collaboration, discussion, and knowledge sharing across borders.
These hubs create a vibrant ecosystem where learning, networking, and innovation converge, making the festival an ideal platform for anyone looking to grow professionally and creatively.
Initiatives for Emerging Talent
Athar Festival 2025 continues its commitment to supporting emerging talent with targeted programmes designed to nurture skills, encourage innovation, and empower the next generation of creative leaders.
Young Talent Academies
Offering mentorship, training, and career guidance to young professionals entering the creative industry.
Maheerah Programme
Focused on empowering women in marketing communications through mentorship, workshops, and skills development.
Future CMO Academy
An intensive programme for senior marketing leaders, emphasizing strategic leadership, innovation, and industry best practices.
These initiatives demonstrate the festival’s dedication to cultivating new talent and ensuring that the creative sector in Saudi Arabia continues to grow sustainably and inclusively.
The Athar Awards
One of the highlights of Athar Festival 2025 is the Athar Awards, which celebrate excellence in the creative industry across more than 30 categories. This year, 14 new categories have been added to reflect emerging trends, digital innovation, and evolving practices within the sector.
The awards recognize exceptional work in advertising, marketing, design, digital campaigns, influencer engagement, and more. By honoring outstanding achievements, the Athar Awards serve as a benchmark for quality and innovation in the creative industry, motivating professionals and organizations to push the boundaries of their work.
Why Athar Festival 2025 Matters
Athar Festival 2025 is more than just an event; it is a platform that reflects the growth and evolution of the creative sector in Saudi Arabia. It provides attendees with access to knowledge, networking opportunities, and insights that are critical for professional growth.
The festival is a testament to Saudi Arabia’s vision to become a hub for creativity, innovation, and knowledge exchange. By bringing together regional and international talent, offering hands-on experiences, and fostering collaboration, Athar Festival plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the creative economy in the Kingdom.
Conclusion
Athar Festival 2025 promises to be a landmark event, combining education, entertainment, and inspiration in one unique experience. With its new venue at the JAX District, an expanded programme across five stages, four new content streams, a stellar speaker lineup, and dedicated hubs for networking and innovation, the festival is poised to set new standards for creative events in the region.
For anyone in the creative industry, from marketers and designers to content creators and entrepreneurs, Athar Festival 2025 offers unparalleled opportunities to learn, grow, and connect. Its emphasis on emerging talent, innovation, and collaboration makes it an essential event for shaping the future of creativity in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
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