42nd Edition of the Medina Festival of Tunis
The 42nd edition of the Medina Festival of Tunis will take place from February 21 to March 15, 2026, and will offer a series of musical, theatrical, and artistic performances in several iconic cultural spaces in the capital:
- The Municipal Theater
- The Maison des Arts Dar Asram
- The Bir El Ajar Cultural Center
- The Taher Haddad Cultural Club
- The Zaouia Sidi Mahrez
During a press conference at the Taher Haddad Cultural Club, the president of the Festival Association, Mr. Chadhli Ben Younes, presented the program, which includes 30 performances of various styles.
The festival will open on February 21 with "Riyad Al Achiqin" by Ziad Mehdi at the Municipal Theater. The following evenings will feature:
- Fawzi Chkili with "Taqasim" (February 22) at Dar Asram
- Malak Abd Moulah with "Sahar Al Nagham" (February 23)
- The Club Malouf Khmiss Ternane of Bizerte (February 24) at the Bir El Ajar Cultural Center
- Sohail Chaarni with "Sirta Nova" (February 25) at the Taher Haddad Cultural Club
- Atil Maawiya with "Zilal Al Atlas Alaikom" (February 26) at Bir El Ajar
- Ahmed Ben Jami3 with "Sinouj" (February 27) at the Municipal Theater
On February 28, two performances will be presented:
- "Zhour Al Tarab" by the Club Al Assil of Sfax with Mehrziya Al Tawil at the Municipal Theater
- "Iqa3 Al Rouh (La Suisse)" by Amal Zdeiri at Dar Asram, which will also host "Ahmed Ajabi Jazztet – Bop Elation"
The performances will continue with theater and traditional and contemporary music, including:
- "Kahla Al Hadab" by Tahar Issa (March 1, Municipal Theater)
- "Oshaq Al Tarab" by Abdelkrim Al Basti (March 2, Bir El Ajar)
- "Bayn Al Mashreq wa Al Maghreb" by Ahmed Jellmam (March 3, Dar Asram)
- The Greek Song Choir of Tunis, directed by Ziad Ben Omar (March 4, Dar Asram)
- "Maqam Al Tarab" by Makram Al Ansari (March 5, Bir El Ajar)
- "Tawshihat from the Mashreq – Mediterranean Women's Voices" (March 6, Dar Asram) and a tribute evening to Fadhel Jaziri with "Al Hadra" (March 6, Municipal Theater)
- Aya Dghenouj (March 7, Bir El Ajar)
- Montaser Al Amiri with "Nagham wa Hikaya" (March 8, Taher Haddad Cultural Club)
- Istanbul Concert "From Yunus Emre to Mawlana" (March 9, Dar Asram)
- "Angham min Al Iraq" by Ali Hussein (March 10, Bir El Ajar)
- Oud solo "Rafik Al Darb" by Haykal Siala (March 10, Taher Haddad Cultural Club)
- "Bayn Al Sharq wa Al Gharb" by Sabri Al Aouni and "Rouh wa Rijan" by Mohamed Ali Chbail (March 11, Club and Dar Asram)
- "Naghni Lanjat Al Saghira" by Iqbal Al Jamni (March 12, Dar Asram)
- Tribute to Ziad Gharsah with "Arouadh Ishq" (March 13, Municipal Theater)
- "Al Qudoud Al Halabiya" by the masters of Tarab (March 14, Municipal Theater)
- Closing with Nabiha Karawli (March 15, Municipal Theater)
Mr. Ben Younes emphasized that the festival aims to animate the medina during Ramadan and preserve its cultural and artistic radiance. He recalled that, for 42 years, the festival has relied on voluntary commitment, combining established artists and young talents, and using the medina's historic spaces to bring the city back to life.
The Municipal Theater maintains a central role, despite its initial planned closure for work, to allow the largest number of spectators to attend the major performances.
The organizers have also ensured that ticket prices remain affordable, while integrating performances with a social dimension, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Association Carthage Horizon.
This edition illustrates the festival's desire to combine heritage, culture, accessibility, and social commitment, while offering residents and visitors a rich and varied program to celebrate Ramadan evenings.
