Designathon Riyadh kicks off: Prizes worth 525,000 riyals and innovative tracks
The Saudi capital, Riyadh, is preparing to host a major creative event tomorrow, Thursday, with the launch of the fourth edition of the Designathon challenge, organized by the Architecture and Design Arts Commission. The event will take place at the non-profit Mohammed bin Salman City (MiSK) and will run from January 29 to 31, 2026, bringing together a select group of innovators and designers to present creative solutions that serve the community.
A platform for creativity at the heart of “Misk”
The selection of the non-profit Mohammed bin Salman City (MiSK) to host this event is highly symbolic, as the city serves as a global model for developing the non-profit sector and an incubator for youth and creative talent. The challenge, in its new edition, aims to employ modern design concepts to create sustainable solutions that directly contribute to improving quality of life, a key objective of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places great importance on the culture and design sectors as vital economic and social drivers.
Challenge tracks and valuable prizes
This edition sees broad participation from specialists and stakeholders, supported by the expertise of over 35 experts and mentors to ensure the quality of the outputs. The organization has identified three main tracks for the challenge, covering vital aspects:
- Designed for everyone: It focuses on inclusivity and accessibility.
- Technology in design: To leverage technological advancements and artificial intelligence in architectural solutions.
- Design from the place: to enhance urban identity and draw inspiration for solutions from the local environment.
To incentivize participants, the Authority has allocated substantial cash prizes totaling 525,000 Saudi Riyals, to be distributed among nine winning teams. The first-place winner in each track will receive 100,000 Riyals, the second-place winner 50,000 Riyals, and the third-place winner 25,000 Riyals.
A legacy of successes and record-breaking achievements
Designathon is more than just a one-off competition; it's the culmination of a series of successes. The third edition in 2025 achieved a remarkable national and international milestone by entering the Guinness World Records as the largest design hackathon in terms of the number of participants worldwide. This achievement reflects the significant momentum in the architecture and design sector in the Kingdom and the growing awareness of the importance of design thinking as a tool for solving complex problems.
Expected impact and future of design
This edition is expected to produce high-quality, viable projects that contribute to strengthening the concept of participatory and community-based design. Through these initiatives, the Architecture and Design Arts Commission seeks to empower local talent and create a competitive environment that raises the standards of design production in the Kingdom, thereby enhancing Saudi Arabia's position as a regional and global hub for creativity and innovation in various fields of architecture and design.
