Attracting a dazzling line-up of Arab and international stars, the Joy Awards returned to Riyadh in January to celebrate excellence across cinema, TV, music, sports, and influencer impact, with audience-voted winners announced across 19 categories. Taking place at Riyadh’s ANB Arena, the event featured standout appearances from the likes of Katy Perry, Robbie Williams and Saudi star Ayed, Angham, Abeer Nehme, Il Divo and Liz Mitchell, as well as a theatrical spectacle and tribute to Syrian drama, Ya Sham. Led by the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), the production was delivered by DONE+DUSTED, working in close collaboration with broadcaster MBC, with…
Author: Peter Iantorno
Delivered by Avant Scene in collaboration with Balich Wonder Studio, the Opening Ceremony for the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations combined large-scale LED infrastructure, integrated lighting systems, and audience-responsive technology, punctuated by headline performances from the likes of Davido, French Montana and RedOne, to create a tribute to the unity, identity and resilience of African football. The stage design for the Opening Ceremony was a fusion of tradition and technology. Inspired by Moroccan zellij tilework and the official tournament logo, the field of play became a living canvas, transformed by a black-and-white graphic field cloth and a…
With a long history as a business owner and experience managing teams responsible for delivering some of the world’s largest and most prestigious sporting events, when it comes to major projects on the global stage, Eoghan Gill knows better than most what works and what doesn’t. That experience ultimately led him to JAM, initially through collaboration on Expo 2020 Dubai, where he supported the training of 25,000 staff and many projects thereafter. Fast-forward to Q4 of 2025, and Gill took the “natural next step” of joining the company full-time. Now, as Managing Director for KSA, Gill is bringing his global…
There is no avoiding the reality that the current geopolitical climate and conflict in the Middle East have led to the postponement of much of the region’s events calendar. With this enforced downtime, companies are increasingly looking to diversify their offerings. One such company is ES:ME, which is using this period to expand the wider application of its Rope Access services. Keen to raise awareness of this offering within the industry, the company’s CEO, Alexander Wuerfel, explained to TPiMEA how these capabilities could aid production and venue organisers for future events. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in live events…
Spanning more than 200,000 sq ft of industrial space at Bengaluru’s trendy Alembic City art district, The Sixth Sense Festival brought together digital art, spatial audio, interactive environments and live performances. Organisers Swordfish engaged Synergy Technologies to deliver a range of large-scale projection mapping installations across three flagship zones: the Immersive Room, the Silo and the Live Performance Arena. Synergy Technologies’ Founder, Chirag Patel, described the collaboration as an opportunity to help realise an ambitious creative vision. “Swordfish are true visionaries,” he commented. “Their ideas were bold, genre-bending and uncompromising in scale. India has not witnessed anything of this magnitude…
“We want something never before seen.” Almost every client conversation I have starts this way. I understand the thinking; it comes from a genuine desire to excite and impress. But in my experience, that’s not what people are actually looking for. What audiences want isn’t something they’ve never seen before; they want something they will never forget. People connect with the familiar. They respond to things that spark a memory, feel recognisable, tap into something they already love, but presented in a way that feels fresh and surprising. The goal isn’t to alienate your audience with novelty, it’s to make…
Late changes, unclear ownership, and bespoke control setups are a familiar source of stress in live productions. As interaction becomes more central to event design, the way these systems are built matters more than ever. In this Q&A, 3 Monkeys’ Chief Technology Officer, Rudi Buchner, and Benjamin Bruns, Managing Director, Beckhoff Automation, reveal how a system-based approach is helping to protect both creative intent and delivery confidence in event production. Why are custom interactive systems often so temperamental once deployed? RB: Most custom interactive systems work fine in controlled conditions. That’s not the issue. The problems usually show up once the…
The live events sector in Saudi Arabia has evolved at a remarkable speed in recent years. Driven by the ambitions of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy and expanding cultural, tourism and entertainment sectors, the country is now hosting an increasing number of concerts, festivals, sporting events and public celebrations, many delivered at unprecedented scale. While this growth has positioned Saudi Arabia as one of the most dynamic emerging markets in the global events industry, it also introduces greater operational complexity. The challenge for organisers is not simply delivering memorable experiences but doing so while maintaining robust public safety standards in…
With the geopolitical situation in the Middle East remaining unpredictable, AVIXA has revised its plans for AV industry engagement in the region. InfoComm EDGE, originally scheduled for October 2026 at the Festival Arena in Dubai, will now take place October 27-28, 2027, at the same location. AVIXA will also host a highly curated, invitation-only EDGE Preview in Dubai, Q4 2026. Positioned as a focused working forum, EDGE Preview will bring together senior decision-makers and end users across key sectors—government and enterprise, leisure and entertainment, education, and retail—alongside AV industry stakeholders and international consultants. Through a collaborative, co-creation-led format, participants will…
Sennheiser has announced the return of the popular MD 9235 capsule for wireless handheld microphones. The move comes in response to repeated requests from touring professionals, who remained attached to the 9235 even after it was discontinued a few years ago. “When the MM 435 mic head and the MM 445 high-rejection head succeeded the MD 9235 in 2020, they quickly built their own fanbase,” explained Product Manager Sebastian Schmitz. “But we still had enquiries for the MD 9235 coming in, even after years had passed since its discontinuation. So we sat together with our development and manufacturing engineers and…
Auditoria delivered the audio systems for the debut concert of the UAE National Orchestra, staged at Emirates Palace Theatre in Abu Dhabi last month. Produced by Done + Dusted, the performance marked the orchestra’s first public appearance and a significant cultural moment for the UAE. Auditoria worked closely with Done + Dusted and the UAE National Orchestra to shape an audio approach that supported an immersive orchestral experience, alongside full multitrack recording and a broadcast-ready stereo mix prepared for immediate release. “This was a special moment,” stated Scott Willsallen, Auditoria’s CEO and Sound Designer. “It was an important performance for…
NMK Electronics, a Midwich group company, has announced its exclusive distribution partnership with lighting control solutions company, ChamSys – a member of the Chauvet Group. This strategic alliance expands NMK’s lighting portfolio, complementing its existing distribution of Chauvet Professional products. “ChamSys is a natural addition to our portfolio,” said Dino Drimakis, Director, Strategic Development, MESEA, NMK Electronics. “Our focus has always been on building a portfolio that enables our customers to design, deploy, and operate complete solutions with confidence. ChamSys strengthens that vision by adding world class lighting control to an already powerful lighting technology offering. This is about giving…
