Six Kings Slam 2026 in Riyadh postponed to December 27-30
The Six Kings Slam 2026 exhibition in Riyadh, originally scheduled for October 21-24, has been postponed and will now be staged from December 27 to 30, Turki Al-Sheikh said on Wednesday. Al-Sheikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, cited "logistical reasons" for the change, though reports say the security situation sits behind that explanation.
Organisers describe the Six Kings Slam as a six-player exhibition played in an 8,000-seat arena built for the tournament and one of the wealthiest events in tennis; the 2025 edition carried $13.5 million in prize money. This year’s field comprises Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien and Alexander Zverev, with Tien replacing the injured Jannik Sinner. The event will remain in Riyadh despite the date change.
The postponement follows a sharp escalation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, who have launched attacks on Riyadh in recent weeks. Missile and drone strikes on King Khalid International Airport on October 6 and 7 killed one person and injured eight, a further strike on October 8 destroyed a Saudia Airbus A320, and Saudi authorities said at least 12 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in the third assault on the airport on October 10. Footage released on Monday showed the moment of a deadly strike, with reporting noting "At least 12 people were killed and 309 others injured." Yemen’s Houthi group said it had carried out at least four operations targeting King Khalid International Airport.
The delay has raised immediate questions about the makeup of the player field for the rescheduled dates. Reports state it remains unclear whether all six confirmed players will take part because late December falls in the off-season and shortly before the Australian Open, and players would have to forgo their Christmas break to travel to Riyadh. While the tournament’s prize pool has previously been substantial, the six chosen players will face a decision between rest and recovery for the 2027 season or competing in Riyadh.
Turki Al-Sheikh announced the change on Wednesday and posted on social media: "تأجيل بطولة Six Kings Slam لأسباب لوجستية، على أن تقام في موعدها الجديد يوم 27 ديسمبر 🎾The Six Kings Slam tournament has been postponed due to logistical reasons and will now take place on December 27 🙏🏼🎾 pic.twitter.com/WY4fQVIaNQ". The organisers have not released further detail on player confirmations or adjustments to the event schedule.
The rescheduled tournament will take place from December 27 to 30 in Riyadh, and reports say uncertainty persists over whether all six confirmed players will participate.
