DeepFest Returns to Riyadh as Saudi Arabia Marks 2026 the Year of Artificial Intelligence

Logo of LEAP 2026

DeepFest, the dedicated artificial intelligence and deep technology platform co-located with LEAP 2026, returns to Riyadh from 31 August to 3 September 2026, bringing together global technology leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators to explore the future of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and real-world AI deployment.

This year’s edition arrives as Saudi Arabia marks 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, an initiative backed by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority. DeepFest is the principal platform through which that national agenda meets the global AI ecosystem.

“DeepFest has always been about bringing together the people building what’s next in AI, not just talking about it” said Basma Dawwas, Director of LEAP Events. "This year’s programme is focused on real-world application, from infrastructure and governance to the technologies people can experience live on the ground. The conversation around AI has evolved quickly, and DeepFest reflects where the industry is heading next.”

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries at unprecedented speed, DeepFest 2026 will explore the technologies, infrastructure and ideas driving the next phase of global transformation. The programme spans the full AI ecosystem; from discussions around AI governance, sovereign infrastructure and autonomous systems, to real-world applications across healthcare, supply chains, media and the creator economy. Live demonstrations, including real-time deepfake detection and AI-generated music performances, will place the technology itself front and centre.

Reflecting the growing global focus on AI infrastructure and enterprise adoption, DeepFest’s speaker programme brings together some of the leading figures shaping the future of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Confirmed speakers include Andrew Feldman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Cerebras Systems; Michio Kaku, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the City College of New York; Joe Atkinson, Global Chief AI Officer at PwC; and Luc Dammann, President of EMEA at Adobe.

The event will also welcome a number of first-time exhibitors and sponsors to DeepFest, including Google Cloud, AMD, Blaize, Cerebras, Supermicro, Salesforce, EY and Xerox, signalling growing international momentum around Saudi Arabia’s AI ecosystem and the wider Gulf region. Their participation reflects increasing industry focus on the Gulf region’s role in shaping the future of AI infrastructure, compute and enterprise technology. The partner and exhibitor base now spans more than 1,800 global technology brands.

That momentum is already being felt across the global AI industry. Tareq Amin, Chief Executive Officer of HUMAIN and Global AI Partner of DeepFest 2026, said Saudi Arabia now has “the energy, the infrastructure and the sovereign architecture” to become a global exporter of AI capability, adding that DeepFest plays a critical role in bringing “the global builders and the global deployers into the same physical space” to accelerate collaboration and real-world AI progress.

As enterprises move from experimentation to implementation, discussions around scalable infrastructure and data readiness are also expected to take centre stage at DeepFest 2026. Ali Al-Ismail, Country Manager of Snowflake KSA and Gold Sponsor of DeepFest 2026, said organisations are increasingly focused on building “the data foundations that make AI work at scale,” highlighting the growing importance of governance, well-structured infrastructure and enterprise readiness in enabling long-term AI transformation.

Co-located with LEAP 2026, DeepFest forms part of one of the world’s largest technology event platforms, bringing together global technology leaders, investors, startups and policymakers across multiple sectors, including AI, fintech, health technology, cybersecurity, climate technology, and smart cities. LEAP 2026 is expected to welcome more than 201,000 visitors alongside over 600 startups and 1,900 investors.

DeepFest 2026 takes place from 31 August to 3 September 2026 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham, co-located with LEAP 2026.