The LEAP 2026 conference opens tomorrow in Riyadh for its fifth edition, bringing together founders, technology executives, and investors from across the globe. Since its launch in 2022, the gathering has expanded rapidly into an international event spanning four days of live demonstrations and program tracks across artificial intelligence, advanced computing, and emerging technology.
Main Stage Speakers and Industry Discussions
The Main Stage features prominent figures including Abdullah Alswaha, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Lisa Su of AMD, Chuck Robbins of Cisco, and Tareq Amin of HUMAIN. Furthermore, futurist Michio Kaku and LaLiga President Javier Tebas will speak alongside representatives from NVIDIA, Google, Roblox, Uber, Meta, Lenovo, Nokia, and Luma AI.
Saudi Arabia’s Year of AI serves as the context for the event, placing direct emphasis on shifting software systems into practical deployment. Consequently, sessions across 16 stages and more than 20 content tracks address real-world business integration and technical infrastructure.
Exhibition Zones and Interactive Showcases
At the Tech Arena, Unitree presents robotic demonstrations alongside the AGIBOT A2 Ultra humanoid robot. In addition, COGNIXION displays assistive hardware that lets users control digital equipment using brain signals on the exhibition floor.
The Future Mobility Zone features robotaxis, autonomous delivery drones, and eVTOL aircraft for smart mobility. Meanwhile, GameX Creative introduces new titles, an obstacle course on Roblox, and esports racing simulators in gaming, while SportsHub hosts an interactive Formula 1 setup with Saudi Motorsport Company.
“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.”
Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice-President and Co-Creator of LEAP
Capital and Startups at the LEAP 2026 Conference
Global capital remains a central pillar, with 1,289 investors from 1,016 firms representing $14.5 trillion in assets under management attending the LEAP 2026 conference. The Rocket Fuel startup competition features 100 finalists competing for a $1 million equity-free prize pool from an initial group of over 3,000 applications.
The Ecosystem Xchange platform provides startup founders with direct avenues to access regional markets and negotiate commercial agreements. Additionally, the dedicated LEAP Connect space facilitates private meetings between founders and venture capital firms throughout the four-day schedule.
Citywide Program and Motorsport Partnership
Outside the main venue, the LEAP Nights initiative runs across Riyadh from August 30 to September 4 with 60 events across more than 15 locations. Specifically, the schedule includes investor meetups, cultural events, and executive gatherings across the capital.
Through a strategic partnership with F1 Saudi Arabia Motorsport, attendees at the LEAP 2026 conference gain access to a 20 percent early-bird ticket discount for the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2027 in Jeddah. These combined initiatives support cross-sector networking across business and technology sectors.
