Red Sea Film Festival cancelled as Israeli-US war on Iran hits Saudi Arabia

Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 09/21/2026 - 15:34 Regional wars which now includes Yemen are increasingly disrupting Riyadh’s drive to become a global entertainment and tourism hub

Italian top model Alessandra Ambrosio poses on the red carpet of the awards ceremony of the 4th edition of Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 12 December 2024 (Patrick Baz /Red Sea Film Festival/AFP) Off

The Red Sea Film Festival has cancelled its sixth edition as the Israeli-US war on Iran and Saudi Arabia’s escalating conflict with the Houthis continue to disrupt the kingdom’s flagship international events.

The festival, the Arab world’s most prominent film event and market, had been scheduled to run in Jeddah from 3 to 12 December.

Organisers said it would instead return in the final quarter of 2027 with a “renewed vision and a program that continues to celebrate cinema and filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the region and around the world,” according to a statement.

The festival did not directly cite the wars in announcing the cancellation, saying instead that logistical considerations had shaped the decision.

“The decision follows a comprehensive review of a range of considerations relating to the timing of the next edition, including the logistical requirements involved in staging an international event of this scale,” the statement said.

It added that the festival would return at “the right time and under the right conditions”.

It is the second major international event Saudi Arabia has lost this year as regional wars increasingly disrupt the kingdom’s efforts to promote itself as a global entertainment and tourism hub.

Formula One cancelled the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, scheduled for 17-19 April at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, amid the fallout from the Israeli-US war on Iran.

Saudi Arabia is also facing a sharp escalation in its conflict with the Houthis in neighbouring Yemen. The group has targeted Saudi cities, oil infrastructure and Red Sea oil shipments.

Saudi Arabia established the Red Sea Film Festival in 2019, with its first edition taking place after the kingdom ended its 35-year ban on commercial cinemas.

The festival and its Red Sea Souk market have since become central to Riyadh’s push to build an international film and television industry and reduce the economy’s dependence on oil.

Executives from Netflix, Amazon, Disney and regional broadcaster MBC have attended the market in Jeddah.

When the festival returns in 2027, it will also face renewed regional competition from the Dubai International Film Festival, which is due to return on 8 December.

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