Why WWE Crown Jewel 2026 Is Being Moved To A Different Riyadh Venue

In an announcement on Wednesday, October 28, Riyadh Season officially revealed that WWE Crown Jewel 2026 has been moved from Riyadh Season Arena to a new venue, with ticket holders receiving a full refund ahead of tickets being re-released later this week.

The event will still be taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, though, and Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has reported the pay-per-view will be held at Kingdom Arena, the 30,000-seat indoor venue that has previously hosted Night of Champions 2025 and Night of Champions 2026.

Meltzer further noted on Wrestling Observer Radio it was a Saudi Arabia decision to move Crown Jewel from Riyadh Season Arena to Kingdom Arena and it is because of safety concerns over holding the event outdoors.

"The claim is that it's safer to run the show indoors than outdoors, which makes all the sense in the world. So they're going to move the show indoors... You can bomb any building, yeah. But they think it's safer because it's easier to keep people out if it’s indoors," Meltzer said.

According to Fightful Select, people at WWE HQ only found out about the venue move after it was announced on social media. The move took place after a WWE town hall meeting on Wednesday, during which TKO President Mark Shapiro claimed the safety of everyone was "paramount."

As it stands, though, WWE are still planning to hold Crown Jewel 2026 in Saudi Arabia, a country that has been repeatedly struck by airstrikes from the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen in recent weeks. The Houthis have targeted airports, oil and gas facilities, and military bases in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.

The Wall Street Journal also reported on October 27 that the United States has told allies in the Middle East to be prepared for a short, intense military campaign after the US midterm elections on November 3. The US Department of State travel advisory for Saudi Arabia continues to recommend US citizens reconsider travel, and non-essential embassy staff in KSA were recently ordered to leave the country.

WWE have been partnered with the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority since 2018 and each event is worth at least around $55 million to the pro wrestling company, although the amount was higher for Royal Rumble 2026 and WWE are estimated to receive $150 million for 2027's WrestleMania 43.