Newsletters
Saudi Arabia’s capital will host one of the world’s largest comedy festivals this fall, featuring more than 50 internationally renowned comedians—including stars from Netflix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime—as part of Riyadh Season 2025.
The announcement came through a video posted on social media by Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority. “It’s been a while since I last spoke publicly—today, I’d like to speak out,” Al-Sheikh said, introducing details about the festival.
Riyadh Season is an annual event in Saudi Arabia’s cultural calendar that features sports, local and international entertainers, and culinary experiences.
The Global Comedy Festival will take place in Riyadh from September 26 to October 9 as part of the broader Riyadh Season entertainment initiative, which includes concerts, theatrical productions, sporting events, and major international collaborations.
Al-Sheikh also announced that comedians Kevin Hart, Russell Peters, Whitney Cummings, and Sebastian Maniscalco are set to perform at the upcoming festival.
However, the timing of the event has raised criticism, as Gaza faces what UNICEF describes as a “horrific reality” for its people—especially children.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 111 people—including 80 children—have died from famine and malnutrition, with 10 of those deaths reported in the past 24 hours, underscoring the scale of the humanitarian crisis.
1 min read
Critics argue that hosting a high-budget entertainment event under such circumstances reflects a troubling disconnect from the urgent needs in the region.
“Hunger is widespread in Gaza, and people are dying,” UNICEF said, describing the situation as a direct result of restricted aid access and continued Israeli bombardment. According to the agency, food is dangerously scarce, clean water is below emergency levels, and relief operations remain extremely dangerous.
This is not the first time Al-Sheikh has faced criticism for overlooking the suffering in Gaza. The fourth edition of Riyadh Season in 2023 drew similar backlash, with critics noting that the festival coincided with the early days of Israel's war on Gaza.
Nevertheless, the Saudi entertainment authority maintained its position, insisting that criticism would not deter them from pursuing entertainment programs and initiatives integral to the country’s cultural and economic transformation. This stance was reiterated by Turki Al-Sheikh in his statement at the time.
Despite the controversy, the Riyadh Season events proceeded as planned.
3 min read
