LEAP 2026 opens its doors in Riyadh on 31 August, marking the fifth edition of an event that has grown since 2022 into one of the world's largest gatherings of the global technology community, organiser Tahaluf said on the eve of the opening.
The fifth edition welcomes technology leaders, investors, founders and innovators for four days of announcements, live demonstrations and conversations across AI, advanced computing, mobility, gaming, sport and emerging technology, with a programme spanning 16 stages and more than 20 content tracks alongside new zones and experiences.
The Main Stage features H.E. Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Communications and Information Technology; Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD; Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco; and Tareq Amin, CEO of HUMAIN, joined by futurist and theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, LaLiga President Javier Tebas, and senior voices from NVIDIA, Google, Roblox, Uber, Meta, Lenovo, Nokia and Luma AI.
With Saudi Arabia's Year of AI as the wider backdrop, artificial intelligence runs throughout the programme, with a particular focus on how the technology is moving from discussion into real-world application.
At Tech Arena, Unitree robots take to the floor for live dance demonstrations alongside AGIBOT's A2 Ultra humanoid robot and COGNIXION technology that lets users communicate with and control devices using brain signals. The Future Mobility Zone brings robotaxis, autonomous delivery drones and flying taxis to the show floor; GameX Creative features new game reveals, LEAP's Roblox obstacle course and an ESL FACEIT esports racing simulator; SportsHub offers an interactive F1 experience powered by Saudi Motorsport Company and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, including a racing simulator and a journey through Jeddah Corniche Circuit; and the new LEAP Studios serves as a live hub for podcasts, interviews and creator-led content.
Global capital is firmly in focus, with 1,289 investors from 1,016 firms representing a combined US$14.5 trillion in assets under management confirmed to attend. Rocket Fuel sees 100 finalists, selected from more than 3,000 applications, compete for a US$1 million equity-free prize pool, while Ecosystem Xchange and LEAP Connect create further opportunities for founders to access markets and build partnerships.
Beyond the venue, LEAP Nights extends the event across Riyadh from 30 August to 4 September with 60 events across more than 15 venues, and a new partnership between LEAP Nights and F1 Saudi Arabia Motorsport gives attendees a 20 per cent early-bird offer for the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2027 in Jeddah.
"Five years ago, together with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and SAFCSP, we set out to create a place in Riyadh where the global technology community could come together and turn ambition into meaningful action," said Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice-President and Co-Creator of LEAP. "What LEAP has become since then goes far beyond its scale."