Riyadh Comedy Festival 2025 Recap: Chappelle, Hart, Fluffy, Ben Hart
Quick Summary
Headliners & dates
Dave Chappelle · Kevin Hart · Gabriel Iglesias · Ben Hart (Magic)
Venues
Arena nights were at ANB Arena, Ar-Rahmaniyah. The theatre special was at Mohammed Al-Ali Theatre, Boulevard City.
What this recap covers
The dates and start times as listed, the venues, the age guidance and entry arrangements as published at the time, and how the festival fitted into the wider Riyadh Season 2025.
Entry & age at the time
Audiences were advised to arrive 45 to 60 minutes early for security and scanning. Many shows were listed as 18+ in the festival listings.
Getting there at the time
Rideshare and paid parking were available near ANB Arena and Boulevard City, with gates and parking zones shown in the listings for each show.
Event status
The festival has ended. It ran from 26 September to 9 October 2025, and these 2025 dates are no longer bookable.
Last updated: 22 October 2026. The Riyadh Comedy Festival has ended. It ran from 26 September to 9 October 2025 and brought global names to ANB Arena and theatres across Boulevard City, while special one-offs and fan favourites rounded out the run. Below is a look back at the dates, venues and headliners as they were listed for the 2025 festival.
Over 50 comedians took the stage across Riyadh from 26 September to 9 October 2025, and the city turned into a comedy capital, the official festival listing noted.
Headliners from the 2025 festival
Dave Chappelle: Riyadh Comedy Festival
When: Saturday, 27 September 2025, 8pm. Where: ANB Arena (formerly The Venue), Riyadh. Why it mattered: Chappelle’s first Riyadh bill anchored the opening weekend with a new live set. Details: Festival and retailer listings at the time listed 27 September at ANB Arena.
Kevin Hart: Riyadh Comedy Festival
When: Sunday, 28 September 2025, 7.30 to 8pm. Where: ANB Arena, Riyadh. Why it mattered: A stadium level act in a purpose built arena, with high production and tight crowd control. Details: Multiple listings at the time confirmed 28 September at ANB Arena.
Gabriel Iglesias (Fluffy): Riyadh Comedy Festival
When: Wednesday, 1 October 2025, 9pm. Where: ANB Arena, Riyadh. Why it mattered: Clean storytelling, crowd work and big room timing that travels well. Details: The artist site and festival listings at the time confirmed 1 October at ANB Arena.
Ben Hart (Britain’s Got Talent): Magic theatre special
When: Thursday, 9 October 2025, 10.30pm. Where: Mohammed Al-Ali Theatre, Boulevard City. What audiences were offered: Sleight of hand met psychological theatre, with age guidance typically 18+ for the festival’s late slots. Source: What’s On Saudi Arabia event report and Visit Saudi event card.
It is not top hats and rabbits. It is a surreal, story driven experience that plays with memory, identity and belief, Hart’s show notes explained.
Venue notes
- ANB Arena (ex. The Venue) sits on At-Takhassusi Rd, Ar-Rahmaniyah (12344). Listings at the time showed reserved seating, multiple categories and VIP boxes for certain nights, with security checks as standard.
- Boulevard City theatres (Bakr Al-Sheddi and Mohammed Al-Ali) hosted midweek solo sets and special formats under the same festival umbrella.
Context worth knowing
The Riyadh Comedy Festival ran during Riyadh Season and drew global debate alongside strong local demand. Major outlets reported on ethics discussions around performer participation in Saudi Arabia. For cultural coverage, it is fair to note that context and link to primary reporting.
Notes from the 2025 festival
- Timing as listed: Some pages showed 8.00pm blocks and others 7.30pm in the listings published for the 2025 shows.
- Age guidance as listed: Many festival shows were marked 18+ in the listings published at the time.
- Transport at the time: Rideshare and paid parking were available around the Boulevard zones, and ANB Arena events ran a dedicated traffic flow for these shows.