Crown Prince Camel Festival announces 2026 program with prizes over 50 million riyals

The Saudi Camel Federation has announced the schedule for the eighth edition of the Crown Prince Camel Festival, set to take place in 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, welcoming top camels from Saudi Arabia and abroad. Over 11 days, races will be held in both morning and evening sessions, covering the official camel categories: Haqayeq, Laqaya, Jadh'a, Camel Riders Race, Thanaya, and the Heel and Zamoul categories.

The competition opens with the Haqayeq category over a 2 km distance, 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 in the morning and 20 in the evening—featuring Mazayin for Wadh and Hamr breeds and six cup races. The Jadh'a category follows with 38 races over 5 km—30 in the morning and 8 in the evening—including Mazayin for Asayel, Safr, and Majahim breeds, four cup races, and four open races.

The festival will also feature the Camel Riders Race, with a 5 km race for men and a 2 km race for women, totaling 14 races, including two evening races for men and women. Special races for Arab countries will also be held.

The Thanaya category will be contested over 6 km with 20 races—16 in the morning and four evening cup races. The program concludes with the Heel and Zamoul category, also over 6 km and 20 races—16 in the morning and four evening cup races.

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

The festival has previously won four Guinness World Records (2018, 2019, and 2024) for the largest camel gathering worldwide, as well as for the world's largest illuminated camel sculpture featuring 51,200 light sources. It has also received the Makkah Excellence Award for economic excellence.