FIBO Arabia 2026 has been cancelled, as continuing instability in the Middle East puts pressure on international travel and events across the region.

The second edition of the health, fitness and wellness trade show had been due to take place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 8 – 10 September – just three weeks from now.

The new dates for the event are 6 – 8 October 2027, with the venue remaining unchanged.

Organiser RX said it had taken the decision to cancel ‘following consultation with key stakeholders’.

The decision comes as the continuing conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel creates uncertainty around the Gulf, including disruption to transport, shipping, business activity and overall confidence.

Tensions have escalated again during August, with attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and continuing concerns over attacks on Saudi infrastructure. Saudi Arabia has also been strengthening its defensive arrangements in response to the changing security situation.

The events sector has already been affected. Earlier this year, international events organiser Informa postponed events across more than 10 of its brands in the Middle East as a result of the conflict.

The cancellation is a delay to FIBO’s expansion in the Middle East following a strong debut for FIBO Arabia in Riyadh in October 2025.

The inaugural event attracted 12,399 visitors, more than 80 exhibitors and over 50 speakers during its three-day run, with exhibitors coming from across the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the US.

It was launched as a regional extension of FIBO – the major international fitness and wellness trade show held annually in Cologne – and positioned to support Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding health and fitness market.

The 2026 event was expected to build substantially on the first edition. FIBO had been organising a show bringing together more than 140 exhibitors and 17,500 visitors, alongside over 70 activities and a programme spanning fitness, wellness, hospitality, sport, recovery and corporate wellness.

The show is supported by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health, while the wider FIBO Arabia initiative has been closely aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy and its ambition to increase physical activity, develop its sports economy and attract international investment.

Saudi Arabia remains one of the fitness industry’s most closely watched growth markets. Research launched in association with FIBO Arabia following last year’s show forecast that the country’s fitness sector could be worth SAR15.5 billion (US$4.14 billion) by 2030.

FIBO’s flagship event in Cologne is unaffected, with the next edition scheduled to run from 8 – 11 April 2027.