In a landmark move reflecting its ambitious Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, Saudi Arabia is set to host the world’s largest comedy festival from September 26 to October 9, 2025, in Riyadh’s vibrant Boulevard City.
This historic event will gather more than 50 internationally acclaimed comedians, including household names like Kevin Hart, Russell Peters, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Pete Davidson, and Chris Tucker, marking a transformative moment in global entertainment. The festival is a central feature of Riyadh Season 2025, underscoring the Kingdom’s drive to position itself as a leading hub for culture, tourism, and live events in the Middle East and beyond.
Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA), under the leadership of Chairman Turki Alalshikh, has officially unveiled an unprecedented lineup of comedy stars for the inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival.
Announced via Alalshikh’s official X account, the festival promises to be “the biggest comedy festival in the world,” with over 50 performers from diverse backgrounds taking the stage in Boulevard City over two weeks.
Among the headline acts are internationally renowned comedians such as Kevin Hart, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Russell Peters—the Canadian-Indian comedian famed for his multicultural material and worldwide fanbase. Hollywood icon Chris Tucker, celebrated for the Rush Hour franchise, and Aziz Ansari, Emmy winner and co-creator of Master of None, will also be featured.
The festival further boasts Pete Davidson, known for Saturday Night Live and Peacock’s Bupkis, as well as Tom Segura, whose Netflix special Bad Thoughts earned an Emmy nomination. Other notable names include podcast hosts Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee (Bad Friends), Emmy-nominated writer Nimesh Patel, Amazon Prime standout Sam Morril (You’ve Changed), and British-Iranian comedian Omid Djalili.
Additional performers confirmed so far include Chris Distefano, Mark Normand, Hannibal Buress, six-time Emmy and three-time Grammy winner Louis C.K., and Australian favorite Jimeoin. The lineup continues with Andrew Schulz, Bill Burr, Jessica Kirson, Jimmy Carr, Jo Koy, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Maz Jobrani, Whitney Cummings, and Zarna Garg.
These comedians represent a wide spectrum of comedic styles, from sharp political satire and deadpan delivery to high-energy storytelling and cultural commentary, ensuring that the festival appeals to a truly global audience.
The entire event will unfold at Boulevard City, Riyadh’s sprawling, high-tech entertainment district located in the Hittin area along Prince Turki Al-Awwal Road. Spanning over 220 acres, the venue is divided into themed zones, including open-air plazas, theaters, music stages, and the iconic Times Square-inspired “Square” with towering digital screens.
