The 34th Arab Music Festival Begins in October
The Cairo Opera House is preparing for the 34th edition of the Arab Music Festival and Conference, scheduled to begin on October 20, 2026, and continue through October 30, extending across 11 nights. The official Cairo Opera House calendar confirms the opening ceremony on October 20 at the Main Hall.
The new edition will feature a large group of Egyptian and Arab singers, along with Arab researchers participating in the accompanying conference.
Festival organizers are currently finalizing the artistic and academic program ahead of an expected press conference before the end of September, when the full schedule is due to be announced.
🎤 Around 5 Arab Singers Join the Festival
The 34th edition is expected to feature around five Arab singers from different generations, alongside several major Egyptian vocalists whose participation has been included in the festival preparations.
The Egyptian lineup mentioned in the current preparations includes Mohamed El Helou, Ali El Haggar, Reham Abdel Hakim, Ghada Ragab and Nadia Mostafa.
Meanwhile, organizers are still negotiating with additional names, including Medhat Saleh and Omar Khairat, as well as other artists for the new edition.
The final lineup remains tied to the completion of contracts with the participating artists, while organizers say the festival program is now close to its final form.
⭐ Egyptian Stars in the New Edition
The upcoming festival includes several established names from the Egyptian music scene, continuing the event’s effort to bring together major veteran performers and different generations of musical talent.
Ali El Haggar, Mohamed El Helou, Reham Abdel Hakim, Ghada Ragab and Nadia Mostafa are among the names currently featured in the preparations, while the participation of other artists remains subject to negotiations and official agreements.
Earlier preparations also included discussions around additional singers as organizers worked to create a program combining established stars with younger voices in line with the festival’s artistic direction.
🎼 11 Nights of Concerts and Events
One of the main features of the 34th edition is its 11-night schedule, running from October 20 through October 30, according to Cairo Opera House information.
The festival’s events will take place across several Cairo Opera House venues, allowing audiences in different locations to attend concerts and related activities.
The venues include the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House, Sayed Darwish Theatre in Alexandria, Damanhour Opera House and the Arabic Music Institute, while the Small Hall will host the research sessions of the accompanying conference.
The edition will therefore combine major concerts with academic and research activities connected to Arab music.
📚 The Conference Accompanying the Arab Music Festival
The 34th edition will not be limited to musical performances. It will also include an academic conference featuring researchers from Egypt and other Arab countries.
The research program includes topics related to Arab music between academic criticism and media coverage, among other areas prepared by the festival’s scientific committee.
A member of the scientific committee also denied reports that Arab researchers would no longer participate, confirming that researchers from outside Egypt remain part of the conference despite discussions over the festival’s budget.
📅 Press Conference to Reveal the Full Program
Festival organizers are preparing to announce the complete 34th-edition program during a press conference expected to take place before the end of September.
Recent updates indicate that the main elements of the festival are nearly finalized, with organizers currently completing the final arrangements and artist contracts ahead of the official announcement.
Audiences are waiting for that announcement to learn the full concert schedule, the Arab singers taking part and the details of performances planned in Cairo, Alexandria and Damanhour.
🎶 Competitions and Additional Activities
The new edition will also feature accompanying activities, including the Ratiba El-Hefny Arabic Singing Competition for young performers, as well as another competition dedicated to instrumental performance.
The Cairo Opera House opened registration for the competitions beginning September 15, while the main festival runs from October 20 to 30, 2026.
These activities provide an additional platform for young talent alongside the major concerts featuring established artists from Egypt and the Arab world.
✨ The 34th Arab Music Festival Brings Together Music, Research and Young Talent
The 34th edition of the Arab Music Festival and Conference combines 11 nights of concerts with performances by Egyptian and Arab singers, academic discussions, music competitions and activities for young talents.
With negotiations continuing with additional artists and the final schedule still being prepared, attention is now turning toward the upcoming press conference, where the full program is expected to be revealed before the end of September.
The festival will officially begin on October 20, 2026, and continue through October 30, offering another edition of one of the Cairo Opera House’s major annual music events.
Which singer would you most like to see perform at the 34th Arab Music Festival? 🎤💬
