Red Sea International Film Festival 2026 in Jeddah postponed; sixth edition to be held in 2027
Published 1 hour ago | By Nouman Shakeel
The Red Sea International Film Festival, originally scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this December, will no longer be held in 2026. Announcing a one-year postponement of the sixth edition, the Red Sea Foundation stated that the festival will now take place in the final quarter of 2027; however, specific dates have not yet been finalized.
The festival was originally set to run from December 3 to 12, 2026, in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district. In an announcement issued on September 21, the Red Sea Foundation explained that the decision to postpone the event by a year followed a comprehensive review of the festival's timing and the administrative and logistical requirements involved in hosting a major international event.
According to the Foundation, the aim is to hold the festival when arrangements meet the high standards required to deliver the exceptional experience for which the Red Sea International Film Festival is renowned.
Festival activities will not come to a complete halt
Despite the postponement of the sixth edition, the Red Sea Foundation’s other year-round activities will continue as usual. The Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Labs will maintain their operations, and new year-round activities are set to launch at the Culture Square in historic Jeddah starting in November 2026.
The Foundation expressed its gratitude to filmmakers, partners, guests, and audiences for their continued support. Filmmakers who submitted entries and accreditation holders affected by the postponement are advised to visit the Foundation’s website for information regarding refunds and other details. Within just the first 30 minutes of the announcement, hundreds of reactions appeared on social media, reflecting the fact that the Red Sea Film Festival has firmly established its place in the region's cultural landscape and the global film calendar.
Over the past few years, Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival has emerged as a major film and cultural event in the Arab world, attracting world-class actors, filmmakers, and other industry figures. The festival is also part of broader efforts to expand the cinema and entertainment sectors in Saudi Arabia.
The postponement of the festival until 2027 creates a one-year gap for the Arab film industry and for global film executives seeking business opportunities in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the region's film landscape is undergoing changes; the Dubai International Film Festival is also set to return after a decade-long hiatus, with activities for its new edition scheduled to begin on December 8, 2027.
