First look at MASSIVE castle stage built for WWE Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia
(Courtesy : WWE)
The first PLE of 2026 will emanate from a newly constructed arena.
The Road to WrestleMania 42 will officially kick off at the 2026 edition of the Royal Rumble PLE in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 31. The event will emanate from a newly constructed arena at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in the capital city, which has been erected in record time.
The 39th edition will mark the first traditional Royal Rumble held outside North America, as well as the 14th WWE event hosted in Saudi Arabia under the company’s decade-long partnership aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
It will also be the country’s second event to feature a Rumble match, following Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018, and the first WWE “Big Five” event staged there.
The event has sparked intense speculation among fans, driven partly by the show’s format and partly by the arena itself. Fans in the area have shared spy shots throughout the process, allowing others to track construction progress, which has now been completed as the stage stands ready to host the 2026 edition.
Ahead of the PLE, a new bird’s-eye view has gone viral on social media, giving fans a sneak peek at the incredible stage ahead of Saturday night.
Also Read: Will WrestleMania 42 sign be at WWE Royal Rumble 2026 in Riyadh?
WWE has built a WrestleMania-esque stage for the Royal Rumble
The massive open-air venue, specially constructed in the heart of King Abdullah Financial District, boasts complete lighting rigs, expansive LED displays, and a grand entrance design, signalling that the speculations of the event being on par with WrestleMania are true.
The arena also features a massive entrance stage, with multiple spy shots from fans, featuring special props for stars like LA Knight and Roman Reigns, further hints as grand entrances for the event.
The event will not only kick off the Road to WrestleMania 42 but also serve as a major statement for the promotion as it aims to deliver a historic night for fans in Riyadh.
When and where will the Royal Rumble 2026 take place?
The 39th edition will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of Riyadh Season.
What matches have been announced for the PLE?
• Men’s Royal Rumble match• Women’s Royal Rumble match• Drew McIntyre (c) vs Sami Zayn – Undisputed WWE title match• AJ Styles vs Gunther (If Styles loses, he will be forced to retire)
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.