The **Riyadh Comedy Festival** is a groundbreaking event marking the first major international comedy festival hosted in Saudi Arabia, aiming to position Riyadh as a global hub for comedy and entertainment. Held from September 26 to October 9, 2025, it featured prominent American comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, Louis C.K., and Pete Davidson, with performance fees reportedly ranging from $150,000 to over $1.6 million for top acts[1][3]. The festival was organized under the auspices of the Saudi government, reflecting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's vision to diversify the kingdom's economy and improve its global cultural standing through entertainment initiatives. It sought to showcase Saudi Arabia's openness to international artists and to develop the local entertainment industry, which aligns with the broader Saudi Vision 2030 economic reform plan. However, the festival sparked significant controversy and backlash. Critics, including human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch, accused the Saudi government of using the event to "whitewash" its poor human rights record, including repression of journalists and activists. Multiple comedians either declined invitations or spoke out against the festival, citing restrictions on free speech and ethical concerns about performing in a country with a history of authoritarian governance and human rights abuses[2][3]. Performers who accepted invitations reportedly agreed to strict censorship terms forbidding material that could "degrade, defame, or bring into public disrepute" the Saudi state, royal family, or religion, highlighting the limitations on artistic freedom at the event[2][3]. This led to criticism from some comedians who contrasted the festival's censorship with their previous stands on free speech in Western countries. Despite the controversies, the Riyadh Comedy Festival stands as a notable example of Saudi Arabia's ambitious cultural diplomacy and efforts to integrate entertainment into its economic development strategy. It represents a complex intersection of business, technology, culture, and geopolitics in the 21st century, raisin