Saudi Arabia to host the world’s largest comedy festival: Kevin Heart, Russell Peters among 50+ top comedians | world News
In a historic step showing its ambitious Vision 2030 Economic Diversification Scheme, Saudi Arabia is set to host the world’s largest comedy festival from 26 September to 9 October 2025 in the lively Bulleward city of Riyadh. This historical phenomenon will collect more than 50 internationally acclaimed comedians, including Kevin Heart, Russell Peters, Gabriel “Flefi” Iglesius, Pete Davidson and Chris Tucker, which mark a transformative moment in global entertainment. This festival is a central feature of Riyadh season 2025, which outlines the state drive to keep itself in position as a major center for culture, tourism and live events.
The biggest comedy festival ever collects a staller global lineup
Under the leadership of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA), Chairman Turkish Alalshich, officially unveiled an unprecedented lineup of comedy stars for the inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival. Announced through the official X account of Allashikh, the festival promises to be the “world’s largest comedy festival”, with more than 50 artists with more than 50 artists on stage in Bulleward City in two weeks. Among the headline acts are Kevin Heart, Sebastian Manscalco, and Russell Peters-Kanadai-Indian comedians such as international comedians, which are famous for their multicultural materials and fanbase worldwide. Celebrated for Hollywood Icon Chris Tucker, Busy time Franchisee, and Aziz Ansari, Amy winner and co-producer nobodyWill also be painted. The festival is further known for Pete Davidson, known Saturday night Live And peacock BupakisAlso Tom Segura, whose Netflix special Bad thoughts Earned an Amy nomination. Other notable names include podcast host Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee (Bad friend), Amy-nominated writer Nimesh Patel, Amazon Prime Standout Sam Moril (you’ve changed), And British-Irani comedian Omid Djalili. Additional artists so far confirmed that Chris Dystfano, Mark Normand, Hannibal Burus, six times Amy and three times Grammy winner Louis CK, And Australian favorite jimeoin. The lineup continues with Andrew Shulz, Bill Bur, Jessica Kircen, Jimmy Carr, Joe Koy, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglessius, MAJ Jobrani, Whitney Coming and Zarna Garg. These comedians represent a detailed spectrum of comedic styles ranging from rapid political satire and deadpan delivery to high-energy storytelling and cultural comments, ensuring that the festival actually appeals to the global audience.
Buleward City turned into a global comedy hub
The entire incident will be revealed in the Hitin region along with Rajkumar Turkish al-Adwal Road, the huge, high-tech entertainment district of Riyadh in Bulleward City. Spread over 220 acres, the site is divided into themed zone, including the open-air plaza, theater, music phase, and reputed Times square-inspired “square”, which has “square” with a digital screen.From concerts and sports tournaments to immersive exhibitions everything is known to host everything, Bulleward City offers full -scale entertainment experience with more than 100 restaurants and cafes, retail outlets, VR Arcade and Live performance areas. Its chief Mohammad Abdo Arena has seats of 22,000 people, making it a focal point for large -scale events.For two weeks runs of the festival, the district will survive with a concentration of comedy stages, vibrant lighting, food trucks and an echoing atmosphere. The site can accommodate 60,000 visitors at a time, with the daily Riyadh season incidents looking at the daily peaks of 200,000 visitors. Riyadh Comedy Festival tickets will be live on three days, August 1 on Webook.com, in which high demand is expected in all levels. The festival will run from 26 September to 9 October. The event is made more than only a series of stand-up shows, the organizers confirmed daily programming including live stand-up, talk shows, comedy workshops and interactive sessions that complete audiences of all ages, creating an immersive festival experience.
Global icon and a platform for rising regional talent
While Global Headliners are a major draw, the Riyadh Comedy Festival also plays an important role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape. It serves as a platform for regional artists and emerging Arab comedians, giving them rare international performance.Global icons, by sharing the stage with GCC-based talent, by sharing the platform with stand-up, digital media, and performance gains visibility and recognition, potentially mark the key twist points in their careers.Chairman Turkish Allashikh has also indicated in the upcoming programming of Gulf and Syrian theater, regional music, and dedicated presentations, which strengthens the double mission of the festival: introducing local talents for global audiences, bringing the world’s best comedy for Riyadh, introducing local talents.
Anchor in Vision 2030: A Cultural and Economic Milestone
The Riyadh Comedy Festival is not a standalone event. This is a historic chapter in Vision 2030, the National Roadmap of Saudi Arabia for economic change through cultural diversification. The Kingdom Live entertainment, anchoring the Comedy Festival within the Riyadh season 2025, underlines its intention of becoming a top global destination for arts and tourism. Saudi Arabia has already made significant progresses, hosting international sports events, K-pap supergrops and Michelin-starred Pak Shoches. Now, it replaces the spotlight on comedy, an art form that bridges languages, generations and cultures. The festival is expected to attract thousands of domestic and international visitors, promoting footfalls in hotels, restaurants and retail zones, while also offering invaluable risks to Saudi Arabia’s growing creative sector. With the announcements of more artists expected in the front weeks, the Riyadh Comedy Festival is the most culturally effective, economically beneficial and globally to be ready to become one of the phenomena that have been hosted by the state.
