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Balad Beast 2025 Lights Up Jeddah with an Unparalleled Festival Experience
The third edition of Balad Beast concluded with an electrifying finale, cementing its place as one of the most unique and boundary-pushing festivals in the world. Over two unforgettable nights, the historic Al Balad neighbourhood of Jeddah came alive with the sounds of more than 70 artists performing across four iconic stages – Bab, Omda, Souq, and Roshan.
Blending the old-world charm of Al Balad’s winding streets and squares with cutting-edge music production, Balad Beast 2025 once again demonstrated why it’s a standout in the global festival circuit. Thousands of attendees were treated to an extraordinary mix of international superstars, regional talents, and local heroes, showcasing the festival’s commitment to celebrating musical diversity while spotlighting Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning music scene.
The UNESCO World Heritage site was transformed for two days into a music festival seen almost nowhere else on the planet. Saudi Arabia is showing that they not only have artists that can represent on the global stage but festivals that can stand toe to toe with the best of them too. It was a weekend that provided memories to last a lifetime as eyes now look forward to seeing what MDLBEAST have in store next but it won’t be long before they return for another legendary party in the traditional courtyards of the city on the Red Sea.
“Balad is a festival with such a rich canvas to play.. honestly, Balad Beast is almost a light festival surrounded by music. The lighting projections across the site, combined with all the different genres across the various stages is so unique to Balad. You want to come as early as possible and leave as late as you can. The site, the music, the art – it’s such an immersive experience and has so much to offer, I get goosebumps just thinking about it.” – Baloo (CCO of MDLBEAST)
The festival’s opening night on Thursday set the tone with unforgettable performances by 21 Savage, Gunna, Michael Kiwanuka, and regional favourites like Dish Dash, Korolova, Argy, and Disco Misr. With its seamless blend of hip-hop, electronic, and soulful sounds, the night left fans eagerly anticipating what was to come.
“Balad Beast sold out once again, and it was incredibly rewarding to see people from Saudi Arabia and around the world come together to celebrate music and heritage in such a creative way. As someone from Jeddah, it’s especially meaningful to see homegrown talent like Disco Misr, Future Loop, Lil Eazy, Dish Dash, Haffs, and Asayel performing for both their local fanbase and international visitors. The way the festival integrates digital art with the historic architecture of Al-Balad creates an intimate, immersive experience where at every corner, there’s something new to discover. That interplay between heritage and contemporary music makes Balad Beast truly one of a kind.” – Ramadan Alharatani (CEO of MDLBEAST)
Friday night proved to be just as dynamic, featuring headline sets from Wiz Khalifa and Metro Boomin, who brought explosive energy to the Bab stage. Meanwhile Jamie Jones delivered a masterclass in electronic music at the Omda stage alongside Maceo Plex and Mau P. Vinyl Mode, Baloo and Nat Wendell are just some of the other names on the lineup who brought an incredibly impressive energy and level of taken to all four of the stages at Balad Beast 2025.
Balad Beast continues to push the envelope as a festival that redefines the live music experience. By marrying Al Balad’s rich history with modern music, it offers an unparalleled cultural journey for both artists and fans. As word spreads about this one-of-a-kind event, it’s clear that Balad Beast is on the path to becoming a must-attend festival for music enthusiasts around the globe.