The Joy Forum 2025, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 16–17, brought together a rare constellation of stars from Hollywood, Bollywood, sports and global digital media, marking one of the most high-profile entertainment summits of the year.
Organised by the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) as part of Riyadh Season, the two-day event took place at Boulevard City’s SEF Arena, under the patronage of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, GEA Chairman.
Global icons share one stage
The star-studded lineup included Chris Hemsworth, Terry Crews, Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Dana White, Shaquille O’Neal, and rapper Ll Wayne. From the digital sector, creators like MrBeast and IShowSpeed joined the gathering, representing the new face of global entertainment.
But the spotlight moment belonged to Bollywood legends, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, who made a rare joint appearance, sparking social media frenzy. A viral image of the trio alongside MrBeast sent fans speculating about an upcoming collaboration, marking one of the most talked-about moments of the forum.
What are the major announcements?
Beyond celebrity appearances, Joy Forum 2025 stressed on Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a global entertainment hub under its Vision 2030 initiative. The key announcements that were made included a SR 4 billion investment into the entertainment industry and a confirmation that WWE’s WrestleMania 2027 will be hosted in Saudi Arabia.
The forum featured different panels and workshops on AI in entertainment, gaming, esports, film production and digital content strategy, with participation from global players like Netflix, WWE, DAZN, UFC, Sky Sports, and MBC Studios.
GEA officials said the goal was to “empower creators, inspire innovation, and drive collaboration across global markets,” reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role in shaping the future of entertainment.
From cinematic powerhouses to digital creators, the Joy Forum 2025 captured the world’s attention with a celebration of creativity, culture and connection under Riyadh’s glittering skyline.
