Red Sea Film Festival Postpones 2026 Event, Returns in 2025

WHO:

Deadline - The Red Sea Film Foundation is responsible for the Red Sea International Film Festival.

Variety - The Red Sea Film Festival is described as the most prominent film event and market in the Arab world.

WHAT:

Deadline - The sixth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival has been postponed.

Variety - The 2026 edition of the festival was scheduled to take place from Dec. 3 to 12 but has been canceled.

Variety - The festival will return in the fourth quarter of 2027.

WHERE:

Variety - The Red Sea International Film Festival takes place in Saudi Arabia.

WHEN:

Variety - The sixth edition of the festival was originally scheduled for Dec. 3 to 12, 2026.

Deadline - The next edition of the festival is set to occur in the fourth quarter of 2027.

WHY:

Deadline - The decision to postpone the festival followed a comprehensive review of a range of considerations relating to the timing of the next event.

HOW:

Variety - The festival aims to return with a "renewed vision and a program that continues to celebrate cinema."

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 10:57 UTC)

The sixth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, which is the most prominent film event and market in the Arab world, has been postponed and will not take place as originally scheduled from December 3 to 12, 2026. Instead, the festival, organized by the Red Sea Film Foundation in Saudi Arabia, is set to return in the fourth quarter of 2027 with a renewed vision and a program that continues to celebrate cinema. This decision to postpone was made after a comprehensive review of various considerations regarding the timing of the next event.