Saudi Arabia has decided to cancel the Joy Awards scheduled for next year, a high-profile event often compared to the Oscars or Grammys. This move comes as the kingdom faces financial pressures and the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which have significantly impacted its emerging entertainment industry.
Traditionally held in January, the Joy Awards have become a highlight of Riyadh’s cultural calendar, attracting international stars such as Katy Perry and Robbie Williams in recent editions. The event celebrates achievements across music, entertainment, and sports, making its cancellation a notable setback.
This development is part of a broader trend where several major entertainment events in Saudi Arabia are being postponed or scrapped as the government reassesses its spending priorities. The General Entertainment Authority, responsible for organizing the Joy Awards alongside the Saudi media giant MBC Group, has not issued any public statements regarding the cancellation.
Financial cutbacks were already underway before the escalation of the Iran conflict, which has further complicated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative aimed at transforming Saudi Arabia into a global hub for tourism and entertainment. Several flagship projects have been scaled back or indefinitely delayed, including the ambitious 100-mile steel and glass tower known as The Line at NEOM, and a $50 billion steel and metal cube planned for Riyadh.
Additionally, the government has withdrawn funding from ventures like LIV Golf, despite investing over $5 billion, and is quietly shelving plans for the NEOM Stadium, a key venue intended for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Industry experts note that the war and its broader consequences are forcing Gulf states to reconsider their financial commitments.
Dubai-based media consultant Mazen Hayek explained that these events were not only financial investments but also tools for international visibility and soft power. However, current geopolitical tensions have led governments to prioritize other national interests over such initiatives.
In a related development, the Red Sea Film Festival, launched in 2021 to boost local cinema following the lifting of a decades-long cinema ban, has been postponed until 2027 due to logistical challenges and uncertainties linked to the Iran war. Similarly, Soundstorm, a large-scale desert rave that attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees and featured artists like Cardi B last year, was canceled for December with plans to return next year, though no official reason was provided.
Soundstorm, also known as MDLBEAST, began in 2019 amid rapid social reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has sought to reduce the influence of religious conservatives. The festival’s inclusion of gender-mixing, dancing, and queer culture often sparked controversy within conservative circles despite broader support for the kingdom’s social opening.
Despite these cancellations, events designed to attract investment, such as the Future Investment Initiative (FII) scheduled for later this month, remain on track. A source within the Saudi events industry noted that while economic and strategic events continue to be prioritized, entertainment-focused gatherings centered on celebration and leisure are being scaled back.
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