Red Sea Film Festival cancels 2026 edition and confirms return in 2027

Festival says logistical considerations surrounding its international event prompted the decision to pause this year

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival has cancelled its 2026 edition and will return in the fourth quarter of 2027, according to an announcement reported by Variety.

The sixth edition had been scheduled to take place from December 3 to 12. Organisers said the decision followed a review of several considerations concerning the timing and logistical requirements involved in staging an international film event of its scale.

In a statement, the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation said the pause was intended to ensure that the festival could return under the appropriate conditions and continue its programme celebrating filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the wider region and around the world.

The foundation said the 2027 edition would have a renewed vision. It also confirmed that its Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Labs initiatives would continue during the festival's absence.

Year round programming is also planned for Culture Square in Jeddah from November. The foundation said the venue would host film screenings, cultural events and specialised film industry programmes.

The Red Sea Film Festival was established in 2019, with its inaugural edition held in 2020, following Saudi Arabia’s decision to lift its decades long ban on commercial cinemas. The festival has since developed into a major event for the Saudi and wider Arab film industries, while its Red Sea Souk market has attracted international film executives and regional industry professionals.

The cancellation comes after several changes within the festival’s leadership. Faisal Baltyuor became CEO of the Red Sea Foundation in May 2025, overseeing the festival as well as the Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Labs. Shivani Pandya Malhotra, who had served as the festival’s general manager and played a major role in developing the event, left her position in June 2026.

Variety reported that her replacement had not yet been announced. The publication also cited sources who said Baltyuor’s approach to the festival had differed from Pandya Malhotra’s way of operating.

The 2025 edition featured Sean Baker as jury president and welcomed international names including Dakota Johnson, Uma Thurman, Ana de Armas, Queen Latifah, Vin Diesel and Michael Caine.

With the 2026 edition cancelled, some Arab films originally expected to receive regional premieres at the festival may instead seek launches at other upcoming regional events. The Red Sea Film Festival is scheduled to return in 2027.