Saudi Arabia Set to Cancel Next Year’s Joy Awards Amid Spending Cuts, Iran War, Sources Say
RIYADH, Oct 5 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Arabia is set to cancel next year’s Joy Awards, one of Riyadh’s highest-profile entertainment events, as spending pressures and the Iran war weigh on the Kingdom’s developing entertainment sector, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Held each January, the Joy Awards have become a major fixture on Riyadh’s annual events calendar, attracting international performers including Katy Perry and Robbie Williams this year and presenting awards across music, entertainment and sport.
The expected cancellation would add to a series of high-profile entertainment events that have been postponed or called off as Saudi Arabia reassesses spending priorities and reduces budgets in parts of the culture and entertainment sector.
A spokesperson for the General Entertainment Authority, which organizes the Joy Awards with Saudi media conglomerate MBC Group, did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. MBC Group and the Saudi government’s media office also did not respond.
Industry sources told Reuters that budget reductions were already being felt before the Iran war, which has added pressure to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plans to develop Saudi Arabia as a destination for tourism and major international events under Vision 2030.
Reuters reported that several flagship projects have also been scaled back, postponed or reconsidered over roughly the past year.
Those include The Line at NEOM and a planned $50 billion cube-shaped development in Riyadh. Two sources familiar with the matter also told Reuters that government funding had been withdrawn from ventures including LIV Golf after more than $5 billion was spent on the startup, while plans for the NEOM Stadium, a proposed venue for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, were being quietly shelved.
Dubai-based media consultant Mazen Hayek said the war and its wider effects were prompting Gulf governments to reconsider spending priorities, including projects originally intended to strengthen international visibility and influence.
The Red Sea Film Festival was postponed last month until 2027, with organizers citing logistical constraints and other factors. Industry sources also said uncertainty surrounding the Iran war had made it more difficult to secure international stars for major events.
The festival was launched in 2021 as part of Saudi Arabia’s effort to develop its domestic cinema industry following the lifting of a decades-long ban on cinemas.
Organizers also cancelled this year’s Soundstorm, also known as MDLBEAST, which had been scheduled for December. They said the large-scale music festival would return next year but did not provide a reason for the cancellation.
Soundstorm began in 2019 during a period of rapid social change in Saudi Arabia and became one of the Kingdom’s largest entertainment events.
Events focused more directly on investment and economic activity remain on schedule, including the Future Investment Initiative, which organizers say will take place later this month.
A person working in Saudi Arabia’s events industry told Reuters that events viewed as important to the economy and the Kingdom’s international standing were still being prioritized, while some entertainment-focused events were receiving less emphasis.
