LEAP 2026 opens its doors in Riyadh today, marking the landmark fifth edition of an event that has grown into one of the world’s largest gatherings of the global technology community. Since launching in 2022, LEAP has expanded rapidly in scale and international reach, attracting technology companies, investors, start-ups, speakers and innovators from around the world.
LEAP 5 will welcome global technology leaders, investors, founders and innovators for four days of major announcements, live demonstrations and conversations spanning AI, advanced computing, mobility, gaming, sport and emerging technology. The programme will feature 16 stages and more than 20 content tracks, alongside new zones and experiences reflecting how the event has evolved over its first five editions.
The Main Stage will feature some of the most influential figures shaping the global technology landscape, including 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.
They will be joined by futurist and theoretical physicist Michio Kaku; Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga; and senior leaders from companies including NVIDIA, Google, Roblox, Uber, Meta, Lenovo, Nokia and Luma AI.
With Saudi Arabia’s Year of AI providing a wider backdrop to the fifth edition, artificial intelligence will run throughout the programme, with a particular focus on how the technology is moving beyond discussion and into real-world applications.
Beyond the conference stages, LEAP 2026 will bring emerging technologies to life through a series of interactive experiences. At Tech Arena, Unitree robots will perform live dance demonstrations alongside AGIBOT’s A2 Ultra humanoid robot and COGNIXION technology that enables users to communicate with and control devices using brain signals.
The Future Mobility Zone will showcase robotaxis, autonomous delivery drones and flying taxis, while GameX Creative will feature new game reveals, LEAP’s Roblox obstacle course and an ESL FACEIT esports racing simulator experience.
SportsHub will offer an interactive Formula 1 experience powered by Saudi Motorsport Company and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, including a racing simulator and an interactive journey through Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The new LEAP Studios will provide a live hub for podcasts, interviews and creator-led content throughout the event.
Investment and start-up growth will also be major themes. LEAP 2026 has confirmed 1,289 investors from 1,016 firms representing a combined US$14.5 trillion in assets under management. Rocket Fuel will see 100 finalists compete for a US$1 million equity-free prize pool after receiving more than 3,000 applications.
Beyond the venue, LEAP Nights is extending the event across Riyadh from 30 August to 4 September, with 60 events across more than 15 venues combining networking, business, culture and entertainment.
Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice-President and Co-Creator of LEAP, said: “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. What LEAP has become since then goes far beyond its scale. It is about the people who connect here, the partnerships that begin here and the opportunities that continue long after the doors close. Tomorrow, we open our fifth edition, bringing the world’s technology community together once again and reflecting the extraordinary progress of both LEAP and Saudi Arabia’s technology ecosystem.”
