Saudi Arabia to cancel Joy Awards, its answer to the Grammys, amid budget cuts, sources say

Saudi Arabia plans to cancel next year’s Joy Awards, a high-profile Riyadh entertainment show billed as the kingdom’s answer to the Oscars or the Grammys, according to two sources cited by Reuters. Scheduled for January, the event has grown into a flagship slot on the capital’s annual calendar, drawing performers including Katy Perry and Robbie Williams this year. The decision comes as financial strain and the Iran war hit Saudi Arabia’s young entertainment sector, with Riyadh reprioritizing spending and cutting culture and entertainment budgets. The General Entertainment Authority and MBC Group, which jointly organize the awards, declined to comment. Other cultural projects have already been scaled back or paused.