Saudi Arabia to host world’s largest comedy festival

Saudi Arabia is making significant strides in expanding its entertainment industry with the announcement of the world’s largest comedy festival — the Riyadh Comedy Festival. Scheduled to take place from September 26 to October 9 in the capital city, the event promises to feature some of the biggest names in international stand-up comedy.

Turki Alal Sheikh, Chairman of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, confirmed the plans in a social media statement, highlighting that this will be the first time Riyadh hosts such a large-scale comedy event. Preparations are already underway, and excitement is building ahead of the festival.

Among the confirmed participants is world-renowned comedian Kevin Hart, often dubbed the “King of Comedy.” Hart has expressed keen interest in joining the festival, and a promotional video featuring him has been released as part of the international campaign to promote the event.

The festival will be held at Boulevard City, Riyadh’s famous media district, bringing together over 50 top comedians from across the globe. In addition to Kevin Hart, notable comedians such as Sebastian Maniscalco and Russell Peters — the Canadian comic of Indian descent known for his multicultural humor — are confirmed to perform.

This landmark festival marks a major step in Saudi Arabia’s cultural expansion, positioning Riyadh as a growing hub for global entertainment and live comedy.