Hype, style, and culture collide as Sneaker Con strides into Riyadh
Do you know your Air Jordans from your Yeezys? Well, we have some exciting news. Sneaker Con takes place across the world, and is now coming to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Running from 7 to 9 February at anb Arena, the event is part of Riyadh Season and celebrates all things sneakers.
Sneaker Con was founded in 2008 by Alan Vinogradov, Barris Vinogradov and Yu-Ming Wu, and aims to be a must-visit destination for the sneaker community. Today, the event brings together more than 4,000 exhibitors and takes place across 30 cities, ranging from America to Asia. Plus, the event attracts more than 300,000 visitors.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Sneaker Con (@sneakercon)
Sneaker Con in Riyadh will combine entertainment, culture, and sporting events to create the region's ultimate sneaker trading marketplace. More than 150 vendors from the United States, the Middle East, and beyond will participate. Shoppers can expect collectables, rare finds, and new releases. Visitors will also have the opportunity to buy, sell, and trade at the Trading Pit.
The convention features its trademark Trading Pit, where visitors can buy, sell, and trade some of the most coveted sneakers and collectables. Plus, there are auctions of exclusive sneakers. All of the events have special guests, including fashion influencers. Previous events have welcomed industry influencers, such as Jeff Staple, SBTG, and TwoJsKicks.
Get there early – the first 10 people to get to the stage can join games and win prizes, and there will be special guests throughout the event.
Put your most fashionable foot forward and check in with FACT for the latest things to do in Riyadh.
GO: Visit https://sneakercon.com for more information.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
FACT
5 days ago
- FACT
Renowned Indian restaurant Gymkhana will make its Dubai debut
Gymkhana can already be found in London and Riyadh. Gymkhana has made a name for itself as one of the finest Indian restaurants in the world – and now, it's making its debut in Dubai. Originally launched in London and with an outpost in Riyadh, the Gymkhana Dubai is preparing to open its doors in the landmark location of DIFC. When Gymkhana first opened in London in 2013, it quickly became a critical and commercial success. It went on to earn a coveted MICHELIN Star, which put it on the culinary map. Its Riyadh debut came in 2021 as a pop-up during Riyadh Season, before returning in 2023 as the brand's first permanent international location. Since then, it has garnered a string of accolades, including Best Indian Restaurant at the FACT Dining Awards Riyadh 2024 and Best Newcomer at the FACT Dining Awards Riyadh 2023. Gymkhana Dubai draws its inspiration from gymkhana clubs of colonial India. These were former elite social clubs where members dined, drank, and played sports. The restaurant is known for its elevated take on classic Indian cuisine. The menu features biriyanis, curries, kebabs, sabzis and tikkas. Plus, game and chop dishes. FACT favourites include the Chettinad Duck Dosa with Coconut Chutney, Kid Goat Methi Keema with Salli and Pao, Wild Muntjac Biryani, and Duck Egg Langoustine Bhurji with Malabar Paratha. Gymkhana has always chosen prestigious places for its restaurants. It is located on Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London. In Riyadh, it is located in Via Riyadh near the Diplomatic Quarter. The latest location has also been carefully chosen with Gymkhana Dubai opening near Royal China and several FACT Dining Award winners close to The Ritz-Carlton DIFC. No matter the city, stepping into Gymkhana is like stepping back in time. The décor evokes the charm of a bygone era, with black-and-white cricket club portraits, deer heads, fringed lampshades, and wooden ceiling fans. Even the bathrooms stay true to the theme, with vintage-style cast-iron cisterns and chain-pull flushes. Check in with FACT for the best things to do in Dubai. GO: Visit for more information.
Campaign ME
04-06-2025
- Campaign ME
Why global brands are turning to the Middle East
The Middle East is no longer just a destination. It's becoming a stage – a global playground for large-scale branded entertainment where stories, technology, and culture collide in the most spectacular ways. As someone who's spent years at the intersection of immersive experiences and destination-making in the region, I don't see this shift as a surprise. It's the result of a perfect storm: vision, investment, and timing, plus a little bit of magic (and a lot of cranes). Let's start with the obvious: visionary government-led strategies, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These countries aren't just diversifying their economies; they're reimagining them. Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia isn't a plan; it's a creative mandate. Entertainment isn't a side hustle; it's the main act. And the UAE? It's been quietly (and not-so-quietly) building a global reputation as a cultural and experiential powerhouse. But policy alone doesn't build playgrounds. People do. And this region has one of the youngest and most digitally native populations on the planet. They're brand-aware, experience-hungry, and fluent in the language of immersion. Add strong disposable income, rising international tourism, and a market that's eager to engage, and you've got a dream scenario for brands looking to make emotional connections. And let's be clear, we're not just talking about theme parks. The next generation of leisure isn't themed or ticketed; it's walkable, wearable, and wildly immersive. It's not about rides; it's about resonance. In the brand and IP experience projects TAIT has delivered for Riyadh Season, we have seen the Middle East audience embrace these experiences not just as an event but as an identity moment. Merchandise sales opportunities are elements of guest engagement and connection that can create incredibly successful retail activations for global IP as a part of these experiences, not to mention the collectability factor. The power of alignment when story, brand, and place hit the same emotional frequency creates an even more powerful (and memorable) guest and fan experience. Branded entertainment used to mean a pop-up in a mall or a logo on a lanyard. Now? Gaming is the new frontier. Saudi Arabia is home to one of the largest gaming populations in the world and the highest proportion of female gamers anywhere. That opens the door to storytelling that's inclusive, dynamic, and still largely untapped. Technology, of course, plays a starring role in all of this. But the question isn't, 'What's the latest gadget?' The question is, 'How does this technology help us tell a better story?' Thoughtful and intentional integration – not innovation for innovation's sake – is what makes an experience stick. And in a region where many projects are being built from scratch, we're not retrofitting old ideas. We're designing new ones from the ground up. Artificial intelligence is also stepping into the spotlight, both behind the scenes and in front of consumers and guests. Personalisation is no longer a luxury; it's an expectation. When it comes to experience building, AI helps us craft emotionally fulfilling journeys that can adapt in real time. That's also how brands and global IPs create moments and experiences that are not only memorable but also measurable. There's a saying I often share with clients: people don't remember what a space looked like; they remember how it made them feel. That's the goal. That's the metric. In our work, we prefer the RFP to be the last resort. We help clients realise their vision before they even know how to write it. That's what makes this moment in the Middle East so exciting. We're not replicating models from elsewhere; we're defining and building new ones. And that requires us to stop thinking in categories, like theme park, museum, plaza and store, and start thinking in stories, memories, and emotional value. So what does this mean for global brands? It means the sandbox just got a lot bigger. The audiences in the region are ready. The infrastructure is rising. And the invitation is open: not just to participate, but to shape what comes next. And for me personally? It's a privilege to be part of this transformation. I believe the success of this region will ultimately be measured by the innovation that emerges from within. The real story isn't just about the destinations we're building – it's about the creators, the dreamers, and the local talent who will shape the future of global entertainment from right here in the Middle East. The world is watching. And the Middle East? It's ready to put on a show. By Amin Rashmani, Chief Business Officer & Regional MD, MENA at TAIT
Campaign ME
27-05-2025
- Campaign ME
BigTime Creative Shop claims milestone Sports Emmy® win
BigTime Creative Shop has received a Sports Emmy® Award for Outstanding Promotional Announcement at the 45th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) – a win BigTime says marks the first time a Middle East and Africa-based creative shop has taken home the honour. The award was for Obsession – Usyk 2 Fury Reignited, a stylised promotional film created for Riyadh Season's highly anticipated boxing rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. The film was conceptualised by BigTime, directed by French collective Megaforce, and produced by Riff Raff Films. Set to Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Out of My Head, the film offers a surreal and comedic depiction of mutual obsession between the two boxers. From Fury imagining Usyk replacing his entire family to Usyk spotting Fury's face on a sausage – a nod to the fighter's infamous taunts – the film built global buzz around one of the sport's most talked-about rivalries. The campaign was part of Riyadh Season's broader strategy to cement Saudi Arabia as a global hub for major sports and entertainment events. BigTime Creative Shop has worked across sport, culture and entertainment and was recognised as the most awarded independent agency in MENA at Dubai Lynx and The One Club, and named Middle East Agency of the Year at Adfest.
