Major Change to Entertainment Calendar: Saudi Arabia Cancels ‘Joy Awards 2027’
A major change has been reported in Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector. As part of a review and reprioritisation of the country’s entertainment programmes, the much-anticipated ‘Joy Awards 2027’ is set to be cancelled. Gulf News reported the development, citing international news agency Reuters.
Held every January in Riyadh, the lavish awards ceremony had become a major event on Saudi Arabia’s entertainment calendar and one of the leading attractions in the cultural and entertainment scene across the Arab world.
Gathering of International Stars
The Joy Awards began with the Joy Forum in 2019 and was introduced as part of the Riyadh Season in 2022. The event honours leading figures from film, television, music, sports and social media. Over the past few years, several major international stars from Hollywood and Bollywood have attended the event.
In 2022, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and Hollywood star John Travolta attended the ceremony. Later, stars such as Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman, Andrea Bocelli and Hans Zimmer were also honoured at the event.
The 2026 edition also featured major international personalities, including Katy Perry, Robin Williams, Millie Bobby Brown, Shah Rukh Khan and Oscar Isaac.
Other Changes to Saudi Entertainment Calendar
The changes are not limited to the Joy Awards. Several other major events in the country have also been rescheduled or suspended.
Red Sea International Film Festival: The international film festival, scheduled to take place in Jeddah in December 2026, has been postponed due to a logistical review. It has been moved to late 2027.
Soundstorm Music Festival: The major Riyadh-based music festival has also been suspended for 2026. Organiser MDL Beast has said the festival will return in 2027.
However, neither the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) nor MBC Group has yet issued an official final statement regarding the cancellation of the Joy Awards 2027.
Source: Gulf News
