Egyptian Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Hanno, recently received Ismail Abdullah, Secretary-General of the Arab Theatre Institute, who led a delegation to Cairo to prepare for the 16th edition of the Arab Theatre Festival, scheduled to take place in Egypt from January 10 to 16, 2026.
The week-long festival will be organised by the Arab Theatre Institute in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. The preparatory meeting was attended by Ghannam Ghannam, Director of the Institute’s Training and School Theatre Department; Nasser Al Ali, Director of General Administration; and from the Egyptian side, Director Khaled Galal, Head of the Cultural Production Sector and Theatre Sector at the Ministry of Culture.
Abdullah conveyed to the Egyptian Minister the greetings of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and Supreme President of the Arab Theatre Institute. He also underscored the Institute’s commitment to organising, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, an exceptional edition of the festival that reflects Egypt’s esteemed cultural standing and the Arab Theatre Institute’s aspirations and pivotal role across the Arab world.
Dr. Ahmed Hanno welcomed the initiative to host the upcoming edition of the Arab Theatre Festival in Cairo—marking the third time the Egyptian capital will host this significant cultural event—and affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to support its success.
The meeting addressed a range of key fundamental and logistical topics related to the upcoming festival. Among the proposals discussed was the organising a conference as part of the festival’s programme, aimed at exploring issues facing Arab theatre through peer-reviewed academic papers—thereby enriching the festival’s intellectual and critical dimensions.
Dr. Ahmed Hanno underlined the Ministry’s commitment to provide all forms of support to ensure the success of this major cultural event. He noted that Egypt’s hosting of the 16th edition of the Arab Theatre Festival presents a valuable opportunity to reinforce the role of theatre as a vehicle for enlightenment and the promotion of cultural awareness.
The minister added, “We aspire to deliver an exceptional edition that serves as a dynamic platform for artistic dialogue—featuring performances that reflect the Arab reality, alongside carefully curated programmes including workshops, a puppet theatre forum, and a specialised intellectual conference.”
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Arab Theatre Institute presented several proposals to the Egyptian Minister of Culture. Among them was the Institute’s intention to introduce a special track within the festival dedicated to selected theatrical productions, aimed at offering a broader and more nuanced perspective on the current state of Egyptian theatre.
