The Red Sea International Film Festival will not take place in 2026, with organisers confirming that its sixth edition has been postponed until the fourth quarter of 2027.
Originally scheduled to return to Jeddah from 3 to 12 December 2026, the festival had already closed film submissions for this year’s edition. The newly announced postponement now puts those plans on hold.
In a statement, the Red Sea Film Foundation said the decision followed a “comprehensive review” of the timing of the next edition, taking into account the logistical demands of staging an international festival of its scale.
Instead, the festival is now expected to return in late 2027 with a renewed vision, continuing its focus on cinema and filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the wider region and around the world. Exact dates have yet to be revealed.
The pause does not mean the Foundation is stepping away from its wider film and cultural programming. The Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Labs will continue operating throughout 2026, alongside its filmmaker development programmes and industry initiatives.
Jeddah will also continue to see new cultural activity this year. From November 2026, the Foundation is set to introduce year-round programming at Culture Square in Historic Jeddah, including film screenings, cultural events and dedicated cinema programmes.
Since launching in 2021, the Red Sea International Film Festival has become one of the region’s most visible annual cinema events, bringing Saudi and Arab filmmakers together with international actors, directors, producers and industry figures in Jeddah.
Stay tuned for more updates on the new date.
