The Red Sea Film Foundation has cancelled the 2026 edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, announcing on 21 September 2026 that the sixth edition has been postponed to the fourth quarter of 2027. The festival had been scheduled to run from 3 to 12 December in Historic Jeddah. Exact dates for the 2027 edition have not yet been confirmed.
In a statement released to press and shared on its social media channels, the Foundation said the decision followed a comprehensive review of considerations relating to the timing of the next edition, including the logistical requirements of staging an international event of this scale. It added that the move reflects its commitment to holding the festival ‘at the right time and under the right conditions’.
The Foundation’s year-round work will continue during the pause. The Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Labs remain active, and from November 2026 the Foundation will introduce year-round programming at Culture Square in Historic Jeddah, covering film screenings, cultural events, and specialised film industry programmes.
Since its first edition in December 2021, the festival has grown into one of the most prominent film events and markets in the Arab world, forming part of the wider expansion of Saudi Arabia’s screen industry after the kingdom lifted its long-standing ban on commercial cinemas. Its absence removes a major end-of-year meeting point for Arab filmmakers and the international industry from the 2026 calendar.
The Foundation thanked filmmakers, partners, guests, and audiences for their support, and said the festival will return to Historic Jeddah in 2027 with a refreshed vision and a programme spanning cinema from Saudi Arabia, the region, and the rest of the world.
