Crown Prince Camel Festival 2026 to offer prizes over 50 million riyals

The Saudi Camel Federation has announced the schedule for the eighth edition of the Crown Prince Camel Festival, set for 2026 at the historic Taif Camel Racecourse in Taif. The event will feature 248 races and total prize money exceeding 50 million riyals (SAR).

The festival will begin on September 3, with elite camels from Saudi Arabia and abroad competing over 11 days. Races will be held in both morning and evening sessions, covering the official camel categories: Haqayeq, Laqaya, Jadh'a, Camel Jockeys, Thanaya, and Hail & Zamoul.

The competition opens with the Haqayeq category over 2 km, featuring 92 races—63 in the morning and 29 in the evening—including individual and group Mazayin contests for Shaqah and Shaal breeds, six cup races, and six open races. Next is the Laqaya category over 4 km with 64 races (44 morning, 20 evening), including Mazayin for Wadh and Hamr breeds and six cup races. The Jadh'a category follows with 38 races over 5 km (30 morning, 8 evening), featuring Mazayin for Asayel, Safr, and Majahim camels, four cup races, and four open races.

The festival will also include a Camel Jockeys race over 5 km for men and 2 km for women, totaling 14 races, with two races each for men and women in the evening session, as well as special races for Arab countries.

The Thanaya category continues with 20 races over 6 km (16 morning, 4 evening cup races), and the program concludes with the Hail & Zamoul category, also over 6 km and 20 races (16 morning, 4 evening cup races).

For the first time, the festival will feature a dedicated Crown Prince Camel Festival Cup for Saudi participants, with a prize of 500,000 riyals awarded to the competitor with the highest points across races.

The festival has previously earned four Guinness World Records in 2018, 20219, and 2014 for the largest camel participation globally, as well as for the world's largest illuminated camel sculpture with 51,200 light sources. It has also received the Makkah Award for Excellence in the economic excellence category.