The first ever Riyadh Comedy Festival, which kicked off on September 26 and runs through October 9, 2025, has become a lightning rod for debate, drawing both cheers and condemnation as it brings some of the world’s biggest comedy stars to Saudi Arabia. The event, promoted as a historic milestone for the kingdom’s burgeoning entertainment industry, has featured American heavyweights like Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Omid Djalili, Jimmy Carr, Jack Whitehall, Kevin Hart, Russell Peters, Jessica Kirson, and, notably, Louis C.K. The festival’s arrival marks a bold step in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, a sweeping initiative aimed at diversifying the nation’s economy and opening up its cultural landscape.
Yet, the festival’s glitzy lineup and packed audiences have been shadowed by controversy, both inside and outside the kingdom. According to BBC News, the comedy sets have included explicit material rarely heard in Saudi Arabia—sex jokes, wife jokes, and even jokes about gay and trans people. Zain, a local attendee, described his surprise at hearing such content in a country where homosexuality remains illegal and punishable by death. "I can't believe people were saying this stuff in Saudi," he said, adding that local Saudi women in the audience laughed along with the rest. Sara, an expatriate in Riyadh, echoed this sentiment: "The response was amazing, I've never seen such enthusiasm." She noted that while comedians avoided discussing Saudi Arabia's human rights record, this omission didn't bother her or most attendees. "People here don't care about those topics. If they did, they wouldn't live here."
But outside Saudi Arabia, the festival has drawn fierce criticism. Human Rights Watch labeled the event an attempt by the Saudi regime to "whitewash" its well-documented abuses, urging performers to use their platforms to speak up for human rights and free speech. Joey Shea, a researcher for Human Rights Watch, expressed disappointment to BBC News: "So far I've not seen one of the comedians raise these issues, not just on stage but on social media or anywhere." The festival’s timing, coinciding with the seventh anniversary of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder—a crime a U.S. intelligence report alleges was approved by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—has only heightened scrutiny. Saudi authorities have rejected the report, and the crown prince has denied any involvement.
Some comedians, like Jessica Kirson, have responded to the backlash by apologizing for their participation and pledging to donate their festival fees to human rights organizations. Others, such as Atsuko Okatsuka, declined invitations altogether, citing contract clauses that allegedly banned material critical of the Saudi royal family or religion. British comedian Rosie Holt told BBC News that such restrictions were rare in her experience, except for the occasional university gig. "There's that old saying, that comedy speaks truth to power," Holt said. "A lot of these comedians have been huge defenders of free speech, and to go and perform in Saudi Arabia, where free speech is so heavily curtailed, is extraordinary. It's morally repugnant."
On the other hand, some performers have defended their decisions. Louis C.K., speaking on "Real Time With Bill Maher," said he was drawn to the festival by the sense that the country was opening up. "There’s a woman who’s a lesbian and Jewish, who did a show there, and she got a standing ovation," he recounted, describing the experience as unexpectedly positive. He acknowledged that, unlike in the past, the only content restrictions he faced were on jokes about religion and the government: "I don’t have jokes about those two things. It used to be when I got offers from places like that, there would be a long list, and I’d just say, ‘No, I don’t need that.’ But when I heard it’s opening, I thought, that’s awfully interesting. That just feels like a good opportunity. And I just feel like comedy is a great way to get in and start talking."
Bill Burr, another headliner, was equally emphatic in defending his participation. On the September 29 episode of his "Monday Morning Podcast," Burr called the festival "one of the top three experiences I’ve had." He said, "The royals loved the show. Everyone was happy. The people that were doing the festival were thrilled." Burr later added, "The comedians that I've been talking to are saying, 'Dude, you can feel [the audience] wanted it. They want to see real stand-up comedy.’ I think it's going to lead to a lot of positive things."
Not everyone was convinced. David Cross, in a statement on his website, criticized fellow comedians for what he saw as hypocrisy: "Clearly you guys don’t give a shit about what the rest of us think, but how can any of us take any of you seriously ever again? All of your bitching about ‘cancel culture’ and ‘freedom of speech’ and all that shit? Done. You don’t get to talk about it ever again. By now we’ve all seen the contract you had to sign." The debate over whether performing at a government-sponsored event in Saudi Arabia constitutes complicity or engagement has been fierce, with some arguing that accepting large sums of money—Tim Dillon claimed he was offered $375,000 for his set, and others millions—amounts to "selling out."
Yet, for many Saudis, the festival represents something new and exciting. "People here are really excited about the transformation programme," Sara said. "Saudi Arabia is trying to be an entertainment centre, and things like this comedy festival really help. There's a lot of enthusiasm here, especially among young Saudis." The festival’s strong turnout, with a diverse audience of Saudis and expatriates, seems to support this. Zain, reflecting on the experience, said, "Every Saudi who attends a show like this will learn something. You had gay jokes, trans jokes, sex jokes, they're being really open about everything—aside from the government."
The festival is only the latest in a series of high-profile moves by Saudi Arabia to reinvent itself as a global entertainment hub. Under Vision 2030, the kingdom has secured hosting rights for the 2034 men’s football World Cup and made major investments in sports and gaming, including the acquisition of Newcastle United and a stake in the LIV Golf franchise. Last month, a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund acquired gaming giant Electronic Arts. These moves, while welcomed by many inside the country, have been met with skepticism abroad, with critics seeing them as attempts to distract from ongoing human rights abuses.
Whether the Riyadh Comedy Festival marks a genuine opening of Saudi society or simply a carefully managed spectacle remains an open question. What is clear is that the event has forced comedians, fans, and observers alike to grapple with the complex intersection of art, money, and politics in a rapidly changing kingdom.
