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

The Red Sea Film Festival has cancelled its sixth edition due to the ongoing Israeli-US war on Iran and Saudi Arabia's conflict with the Houthis, which continue to disrupt the kingdom's major international events. The festival, considered the Arab world's most prominent film event, was originally scheduled to run in Jeddah from December 3 to 12.

Organizers stated that it would return in the latter part of 2027 with a renewed vision and program celebrating cinema and filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the region, and worldwide. The cancellation was not directly attributed to the wars, but rather to logistical considerations and the timing of the next edition. This marks the second major international event lost by Saudi Arabia in 2026 as regional wars increasingly hinder the kingdom's efforts to promote itself as a global entertainment and tourism hub.

Formula One also cancelled the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix scheduled for April 17-19 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Saudi Arabia launched the Red Sea Film Festival in 2019 to establish an international film and television industry and lessen the economy's reliance on oil. High-profile executives from Netflix, Amazon, Disney, and regional broadcaster MBC have attended the market in Jeddah.