Saudi Arabia is set to cancel next year’s Joy Awards as financial strain and the regional war involving Iran impact the nation’s entertainment sector, Reuters reported. Held in January, the event serves as a major fixture on Riyadh’s annual calendar, drawing international performers and handing out awards across music, entertainment, and sport.
Joy Awards Cancellation Highlights Entertainment Budget Cuts
The decision to cancel the January ceremony marks the latest high-profile entertainment casualty in Riyadh. Budget cuts were already underway before the Iran war, affecting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 efforts to establish the kingdom as a global tourism hub. A spokesperson for the General Entertainment Authority, which organizes the event alongside MBC Group, did not respond to requests for comment. MBC Group and the Saudi government’s media office also remained silent on the matter.
The war and its wider ripple effects are inevitably prompting Gulf states to reassess spending priorities,
said Mazen Hayek, a Dubai-based media consultant. He noted that while these events function as instruments of soft power, governments are weighing those visibility goals against broader national priorities.
Mega-Projects and Film Festivals Face Postponements
Financial reallocations have touched multiple flagship developments across the kingdom over the past year. Authorities scaled back plans for The Line, a 100-mile steel and glass tower at the NEOM megacity, alongside a $50 billion cube in Riyadh. Government funding was also withdrawn from LIV Golf after an expenditure exceeding $5 billion, while plans for the NEOM Stadium—designated for the 2034 FIFA World Cup—have been quietly shelved, according to two sources.
Other major cultural gatherings have faced similar disruptions. Last month, organizers postponed the Red Sea Film Festival until 2027, citing logistical constraints and booking difficulties for international stars amid uncertainty surrounding the Iran war. Launched in 2021 following the end of Saudi Arabia’s decades-long cinema ban, the festival aims to foster local film production.
At the same time, organizers called off Soundstorm, a massive desert rave scheduled for December that drew hundreds of thousands of attendees and featured Cardi B last year. Organizers stated the MDLBEAST festival would return next year without providing specific reasons for the current cancellation. Launched in 2019, the festival frequently drew opposition from religious conservatives due to its gender-mixing and displays of modern social reforms.
Investment Initiatives Retain Priority Over Entertainment
Despite cutbacks in the entertainment and arts sectors, economic investment forums continue as scheduled. The Future Investment Initiative (FII), designed to draw foreign investment into the kingdom, remains on track for the end of October.
Events that are important for the Saudi economy and showing its place in the world are still being prioritised; what isn’t is anything that is singing and dancing and having a good time,
an industry worker told Reuters.
Joy awards cancelled due to financial pressures
When were the Joy Awards scheduled to take place?
The star-studded event is traditionally held in January in Riyadh, but next year’s ceremony has been cancelled due to financial pressures and regional conflict.
Which other Saudi events have been postponed or called off?
The Red Sea Film Festival was postponed to 2027, and the MDLBEAST Soundstorm desert rave scheduled for December was cancelled, with organizers pointing to logistical constraints and regional uncertainties.
What major infrastructure projects have experienced funding reductions?
Projects scaled back or shelved include The Line at NEOM, a $50 billion cube in Riyadh, funding for LIV Golf, and the NEOM Stadium planned for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Have government officials or organizers issued formal statements regarding the Joy Awards cancellation?
A spokesperson for the General Entertainment Authority, along with representatives from MBC Group and the Saudi government’s media office, did not respond to requests for comment.
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