Saudi Arabia Comedy Festival 2025: Global Stand-Up Icons Flock to Riyadh for the Gulf’s Biggest Night of Laughs

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—Saudi Arabia’s capital is preparing to turn Boulevard City into a laugh-a-minute zone as the Riyadh Comedy Festival 2025 brings more than 50 international and regional comics to the Kingdom from 26 September to 9 October. Star-studded line-up draws global spotlight Headliners include Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Louis C.K., Pete Davidson, Whitney Cummings and Aziz Ansari, alongside regional favorites such as Saudi stand-up pioneer Ibraheem Alkhairallah and Egypt’s Bassem Youssef. Organizers are billing the two-week program—spread across three indoor arenas and open-air stages—as the “world’s largest comedy festival,” complete with daily late-night showcases, improv battles and workshops for emerging Arab talent. Part of Vision 2030’s entertainment push The comedy extravaganza is the latest centerpiece of Riyadh Season, an annual mega-event designed to diversify Saudi Arabia’s oil-dependent economy by boosting tourism, leisure and the creative industries. Cultural officials say the ticketed shows, street food markets and branded pop-ups could attract 250,000 visitors, filling hotels and cafés in the new King Abdullah Financial District and in nearby Diriyah. Tickets, venues and how to go • Venue hub: Boulevard City’s Music Hall, Comedy Hall and the 10,000-seat Laugh Dome • Tickets: SAR 150–450; VIP lounges from SAR 1,100 (via TicketsMX and the Riyadh Season app) • Daily schedule: 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. curtain; midnight open-mic slots for amateurs • Getting there: Dedicated event buses from King Khalid International Airport every 30 minutes Backlash highlights ongoing rights debate While fans cheer the Kingdom’s growing nightlife, rights groups such as Human Rights Watch argue that marquee events help “whitewash” crackdowns on dissidents and women’s rights activists. Some comics, including Marc Maron, have publicly declined invitations, but others say performing is an opportunity to reach new audiences and encourage social change from the stage. Local comedians find a bigger microphone Rising Saudi acts note that just five years ago it was nearly impossible to book a professional stand-up gig. “Now we’re opening for Dave Chappelle in our hometown,” says comedian Yara AlDawood, who hosts the all-female “Her Laughs” showcase on 2 October. Industry insiders predict that exposure from the festival will accelerate the launch of permanent comedy clubs in Jeddah, Dammam and AlUla over the next 18 months. Why this matters for travelers and expats Beyond the punchlines, the festival offers visitors a chance to sample Riyadh’s revamped dining scene, shop late into the night at the nearby Winter Wonderland fair and explore heritage sites like the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif district. U.S. and EU passport holders can secure an e-visa in less than 10 minutes, making a last-minute comedy-themed city break increasingly doable. Bottom line With A-list talent, bold economic ambitions and an undercurrent of controversy, the Riyadh Comedy Festival 2025 is set to dominate entertainment headlines—and search results—in the weeks ahead.