Saudi Event Awards: Eligibility, Judging and How to Enter

The Saudi Event Awards recognise individuals, teams and companies behind outstanding events in Saudi Arabia. To enter, your event, company or person must be based in the Kingdom, your work must fall inside the awards’ eligibility window, and you submit an English-language entry online before the deadline. Entries are scored by an external panel of industry judges in two rounds: a written first round, then an online presentation and Q&A for shortlisted entrants. This guide explains eligibility, categories, judging and the entry process, based on the official 2026 guidelines.

Saudi Event Awards at a glance

The 2026 cycle has closed. The organisers had not published 2027 dates when we last checked (9 November 2026), so confirm the new timeline on the official site before you plan your entry.

What are the eligibility criteria?

For the 2026 awards, the official guidelines set two main rules:

• Timing: entries must relate to event editions or initiatives organised between 31 May 2025 and 1 June 2026.
• Location: nominations must be for events, companies or individuals based exclusively within Saudi Arabia.

You can submit as many separate nominations as you like, as long as each one clearly fits its category. Only fully completed entry forms are accepted, word limits must be followed, and all entries and uploaded files must be in English. The awards team can move an entry to a more suitable category, and will tell the entrant if it does.

Which categories can you enter?

The 2026 programme listed 29 categories, covering events, agencies, suppliers, venues and people:

• Events: Best Arts and Culture Event, Best Association/Corporate Meeting, Best Community Event, Best Entertainment Production, Best Exhibition of the Year (less than 10,000 sqm and more than 10,000 sqm), Best Festival of the Year, Best Music Event, Best Social Event, Best Sporting Event, Outstanding Brand Activation Event
• Agencies and teams: Best Event Agency, Best Employer of the Year, Best Event Recruitment Agency, Best Staffing Agency, Event Team of the Year
• Suppliers and production: Best Event Logistics Provider of the Year, Best Event Space Design & Décor, Best Light & Sound Solution, Best Stand Design & Build, Best Supplier of the Year, Best Temporary Venue or Structure, Best Video Solution
• Marketing, technology and sustainability: Best Event Marketing Campaign of the Year, Best Use of AI at an Event, Best Use of Technology at an Event, Best Sustainability Initiative
• Venues and people: Best Venue, Young Achiever of the Year

Each category has its own requirements, so read the category brief before you write. Categories can change from year to year.

How does the judging work?

The official judging process has these stages:

1. Submission: entries that meet the eligibility rules are accepted by the deadline.
2. Preliminary review: the awards team checks that each entry is complete and in the right category.
3. First round: an external panel of industry judges scores each entry against the published criteria for its category.
4. Shortlist: the top-scoring entries are announced and move to the next round.
5. Second round: shortlisted entrants present online to the judges and answer their questions. If no one from your team attends, the entry is not scored for this round.
6. Final scoring: the winner in each category is chosen on the total score from both rounds.
7. Winners: results are announced at the awards ceremony.

Judges sign non-disclosure agreements, are not assigned to categories where they have a conflict of interest, and their decisions are final. Only shortlisted and winning names are published; entries that are not shortlisted stay confidential.

How do you enter, step by step?

1. Check eligibility: confirm your event or work falls inside the eligibility window and that you are based in Saudi Arabia.
2. Choose your categories: pick the categories that best match the work, one nomination per category.
3. Gather evidence: collect objectives, results, photos, video and client feedback you have permission to share.
4. Write the entry: answer each question in English and keep to the word limits.
5. Submit and pay: submit through the Award Force platform before the deadline and pay the nomination fee by card. The fee is per entry and non-refundable; check the official guidelines for the current amount.
6. Prepare to present: if you are shortlisted, nominate a presenter for the online judging session.
7. Attend the ceremony: the 2026 rules required at least one representative from every shortlisted company to attend.

Tips for a stronger entry

• Start with the objective: say what the event had to achieve before you describe what happened.
• Show results, not adjectives: attendance, engagement, leads or feedback are more convincing than words like “amazing”.
• Match the category brief: answer what the category asks for, in the order it asks.
• Use strong visuals: clear photos and a short video help judges picture the event.
• Get permissions first: make sure your client agrees to you sharing names, figures and images.
• Rehearse the presentation: the second round is live, so prepare short answers to likely questions.

Frequently asked questions

Who can enter the Saudi Event Awards?

Events, companies and individuals based exclusively within Saudi Arabia, for work that falls inside the eligibility window set for that year.

What are the judging criteria?

Judges score entries against the published requirements of each category. Read the brief for your category on the official categories page before you write.

Is there a nomination fee?

Yes. There is a non-refundable fee for each entry, paid by card when you submit. Check the official entry guidelines for the current amount.

Do entries have to be in English?

Yes. For 2026, all entries, supporting materials and uploaded files had to be in English.

What happens if we are shortlisted?

You present your entry to the judges in an online session and answer their questions. Winners are chosen on the combined score from both rounds and announced at the ceremony.

Sources: Saudi Event Awards entry guidelines, judging process and award categories, checked 9 November 2026.

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