Riyadh is gearing up for another huge moment in its music evolution: XP Music Futures is coming to Riyadh this December, turning JAX District into a hub for global artists, producers, executives and music fans. Across three days of talks, workshops, showcases and late-night performances, XP has become the annual checkpoint for the MENA music industry.
Whether you’re an artist, an industry professional, a student or just curious about Saudi’s new music culture, here’s everything you need to know before XP Music Futures lands in Riyadh.
What is XP Music Futures?
XP Music Futures is a three-day music conference and nighttime festival created by MDLBEAST and held annually in Riyadh. Since 2021, it’s been designed to accelerate the growth of the music industry in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. It combines:
- XP Day: panels, keynotes, workshops, mentoring and networking
- XP Nite: live performances, DJ sets, showcases and label takeovers
The event focuses on four main pillars that run through the program: Talent, Scene, Impact and Innovation, from nurturing young artists to exploring Web3, AI, live events, policy and the future of streaming.
XP Music Futures Key Dates & Location
For its fifth edition, XP Music Futures is coming to Riyadh again in December 2025:
- Dates: 4–6 December 2025
- Location: JAX District 3, Riyadh, a former warehouse area turned creative quarter filled with art galleries, studios and performance spaces
- Format: Daytime conference + Nighttime music program over three packed days
JAX District has become the natural home for XP. The industrial architecture, street art and open courtyards give it a festival feel, while the various venues make it easy to move between talks, networking spaces and live stages.
How XP Music Futures is Shaping Saudi’s Music Ecosystem
XP is part of a much bigger shift in Saudi Arabia. To understand why XP matters, you have to see how it fits into Saudi Arabia’s broader cultural transformation:
- Building a music ecosystem: XP was created to lay down the building blocks of a sustainable music industry, from education and policy to live infrastructure and rights management.
- Powered by MDLBEAST & the Saudi Music Commission: XP is developed by the MDLBEAST Foundation with strategic partnership from the Saudi Music Commission, aligning with national efforts to professionalize and regulate the sector under Vision 2030.
- Platform for MENA talent: It pairs top international speakers and performers with emerging regional artists, opening doors to collaborations and export opportunities.
If you want to understand where Saudi’s music scene is heading over the next decade, XP Music Futures in Riyadh is where the conversation happens.
What to Expect: XP Day vs XP Nite
XP Day: Talks, workshops, and networking
During the day, XP feels like a music industry summit mixed with a creative campus. To name a few, you can expect:
- Panel discussions & keynotes
- Hype and Strategy: Marketing that Moves the Music
- How Music Shapes National Sporting Identity
- The Impact of Anime Music
- Building Scalable Music Startups
- Hands-on workshops
- The Healing Power of Music by Jessica Luiz
- Inside Spotify’s RADAR Artists Journey
- YouTube Music: The Global Playbook for Artist Growth
- Managing the Music Mind: Artists, Producers & Songwriters
- Career & policy sessions
- Fabric at 25: Legacy, Resistance & the Future of Club Culture
- IP in Music: Protecting and Monetizing Creativity in Saudi Arabia
- AI - Protecting The Creative Economy & The Future of Music Creation
- Networking hubs & mentoring
- 1:1 sessions with A&Rs, managers, tech founders
- Meetups for labels, promoters, visual artists and creators
It’s designed so that whether you’re a producer, DJ, live sound engineer, label founder or student, you can walk away with practical knowledge and new contacts.
XP Nite: Music from all sides of the scene
When the sun goes down, XP shifts into XP Nite, a multi-venue showcase across JAX District. Expect:
- Live bands, DJs and hybrid performances
- Genres from techno, house and hip-hop to Afrobeats, rock, metal and jazz
- Label showcases (e.g., MDLBEAST Records)
- Curated nights by regional collectives from across the Arab world
XP Music Futures 2025: What’s New?
With XP Music Futures coming to Riyadh for its fifth anniversary edition, 2025 is set to be a milestone year. Here’s what’s been announced so far:
- Dates confirmed: 4–6 December 2025 at JAX District
- Fifth edition: A special “anniversary” program with expanded initiatives
- Focus on youth & education: Continued collaboration with universities and music schools to bring more students into XP Day programming.
- Strong industry partnerships: Ongoing ties with the Saudi Music Commission and brands from tech, streaming and live entertainment.
- Lineup highlights:
- Moroccan-French fusion band Bab L’ Bluz
- Palestinian-Jordanian artist Zeyne
- Khaliji star Shamma Hamdan
- American-Palestinian singer Lina Makoul
- Palestinian-Jordanian composer and performer Aziz Maraka
- DJ duo Moontalk
Who is XP Music Futures for?
XP is intentionally broad. If any of these describe you, it’s worth being in Riyadh for it:
- Artists & performers: singers, rappers, DJs, instrumentalists, bands
- Music professionals: managers, promoters, booking agents, label teams, marketers
- Technical creatives: sound engineers, lighting designers, stage managers, producers
- Students & educators: music, media, business and creative students, teachers and researchers
- Startups & tech people: music-tech founders, Web3 builders, AI audio tools, ticketing platforms
- Policy & city-makers: people working in government, tourism, culture and events
Tickets: Passes, Prices and Where to Buy
Where to Book
Tickets are available via the NoFomo App. Because XP Music Futures is coming to Riyadh at a busy time (right before Soundstorm and other Riyadh Music Week events), it’s smart to:
- Book passes early
- Reserve accommodation in western Riyadh or near Diriyah/JAX where possible
- Keep an eye on combo deals that bundle XP with other music events
XP Music Futures & “The Loudest Week in Riyadh”
XP doesn’t happen in isolation. It effectively kickstarts what MDLBEAST calls “the loudest week in Riyadh”, now increasingly part of a larger Riyadh Music Week. A typical December flow in recent years:
- XP Music Futures: deep dive into the industry, showcases at JAX District
- Soundstorm: the massive weekend festival in the desert outside Riyadh with global headliners and huge stages, often a week after XP
Also Read: AZIMUTH & MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM 2025: Your Music Guide to AlUla & Riyadh
Practical Tips for Attending XP in Riyadh
Because XP Music Futures is coming to Riyadh, it’s worth planning your trip like a mini city break. Here are some local-style pointers to help your readers.
1. Transport & getting around JAX
- Expect road closures and traffic at peak hours when XP Nite begins.
- Allow extra time if you’re heading for a specific talk or workshop.
- Inside JAX, you’ll mostly be walking between warehouses and outdoor plazas, comfortable shoes are a must.
2. Dress code & comfort
- Dress modestly but casually
- December evenings in Riyadh can be surprisingly cool (around low teens °C), so bring a light jacket for outdoor stages.
- Many stages use heavy lighting and outdoor setups, so sunglasses and a cap aren’t a bad idea for late afternoon sessions.
3. Food, prayer & facilities
- Food trucks and pop-ups usually line JAX during XP, with everything from Saudi street bites to burgers and specialty coffee.
- Expect prayer areas on-site or nearby; program breaks tend to respect prayer times.
- Most venues offer separate quiet areas where you can sit with your laptop or just decompress between sessions.
4. Culture & etiquette
- XP is a mixed-gender, family-friendly professional environment by day, and more festival-style at night, but respectful behavior is still expected.
- Public displays of affection are still limited; keep things low-key.
- Alcohol is not served; expect mocktails, specialty coffee and soft drinks instead.
Riyadh’s Soundtrack to the Future
With XP Music Futures coming to Riyadh once again, December 2025 is when the region’s music future is debated, built and celebrated. From young Saudi producers trying their first workshop to global headliners testing new sets on XP Nite stages, the event captures a unique moment: a music industry being born in real time.
If you’re curious about where MENA music is heading, and how Riyadh is becoming one of its loudest voices, XP Music Futures is where you need to be.