Riyadh Comedy Festival
The Riyadh Comedy Festival is what happens when a city forgets about “business as usual” and just lets itself laugh hard, loud, and together. From September 26 to October 9, 2025, Riyadh’s Boulevard City bursts into one big, messy, joyful comedy circus. And there’s something extra electric in the air this year. If you’ve ever craved world-class performers, sold-out crowds, or simply a night to cut loose, here’s the festival that’s got it all.
Riyadh Comedy Festival transforms Boulevard City into a hangout for anyone hungry for jokes and the occasional belly laugh that makes strangers high-five each other. The vibe? Think late-night café chatter, packed theaters, and the sound of punchlines bouncing around every street corner. Every night is a new lineup, a new flavor, and maybe even a new perspective on what’s funny from chaotic slapstick to the kind of clever wordplay that hits you five seconds after the punchline.
Honestly, if you’re someone who hoards podcasts featuring old stand-up sets, wandering these nighttime crowds will feel like home. And for locals, let’s just say your WhatsApp groups will finally have something more exciting to discuss than weekend traffic.
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Riyadh Comedy Festival Lineup
The 2025 lineup reads like someone let loose in a comedy candy store and grabbed everything legends, rising stars, wildcards. There are more than 50 comedians on deck, so here’s the real MVP list (rowdy applause included):
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Kevin Hart (who brings a hustle even your fitness coach would envy)
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Russell Peters (global reunion vibes and a guarantee Dad will relate)
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Bill Burr (if you like your humor dry and just a touch confrontational)
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Andrew Schulz (bold, internet-age punchlines you can’t un-hear)
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Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias (family-friendly, feel-good, and likely to make your uncle snort)
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Sebastian Maniscalco (the king of awkward, in the best way)
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Jimmy Carr (one-liners faster than coffee refills)
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Jo Koy (big energy, bigger heart)
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Whitney Cummings (brainy, edgy, pretty much always hilarious)
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Aziz Ansari (smart, sly, and always just slightly “is he really going there?”)
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Pete Davidson (unique blend of vulnerability and ‘did he just say that?’ moments)
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Tom Segura (master of slow-burn punchlines)
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Jessica Kirson (unpredictable, high-octane, rich with character)
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Jim Jefferies (Australian edge and stories you’ll end up retelling)
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Maz Jobrani (heartfelt, multicultural, a little bit of everything)
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Sam Morril (classic joke-writing, modern delivery)
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Nimesh Patel (sharp, political, very much of-the-moment)
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Omid Djalili (physical, theatrical, always memorable)
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Zarna Garg (parenting, identity, Indian culture all with spark)
Sure, the official list runs even longer, especially with local and regional acts jumping in, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a festival somewhere else pulling this much comedy gravity. And yes there’s plenty of stuff for people who think “dark humor” means discussing the latest price of gasoline.
Who Is Performing at Riyadh Comedy Festival?
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Practically everyone you’ve threatened to name-drop during trivia night, plus a few new faces you’ll want to stalk on Instagram later. It’s a wild mix:
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The world-famous headliners above (really, Russell Peters was the first comedian whose YouTube clips made my dad say “play another one,” and he hates YouTube).
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Local Saudi talent and Middle Eastern rising stars (if you ever doubted the region’s sense of humor, a show here settles it big time).
People from every background, every age, every flavor of funny, so you could find yourself laughing at jokes about Irish grandmothers, suburban dads, or Persian aunties without missing a beat.
One of my favorite festival memories? Catching Gabriel Iglesias side-stage with a little girl who wanted a photo, Fluffy kneeling and joking, “The secret ingredient is churros!” Her mom nearly dropped her phone from laughter. That’s the spirit. This place is for comedy fans, “I only know Kevin Hart” newbies, and everyone who just wants to forget, for one night, that email even exists.
