Yara Lotfy
International Participation and Exclusive Premieres Celebrate Women’s Creativity: Nesma Mahgoub, Farrah El Dibany, and Marwa Nagy headline this year’s festival. For the First Time, Art Exhibitions will be Hosted at Cinema Radio and The Factory in Partnership with Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment
She Arts Festival has unveiled the program and key highlights of its sixth edition during a press conference held in Cairo at Hilton Grand Nile hotel ahead of the festival, which will take place from October 1 to 4, 2026, under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. Bringing together acclaimed artists from Egypt and around the world, this year’s edition adopts the theme “Voices of Peace: A Global Symphony,” reflecting the festival’s belief in art as a universal language that promotes dialogue, understanding, and peace across cultures.
The press conference was held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Hilton Grand Nile Hotel. Speakers featured H.E. Susana Vaz Patto, Ambassador of Portugal to the Arab Republic of Egypt; Dr. Irma González, Head of the Cultural Department at the Embassy of Portugal in Egypt; Eszter Váczi, Director of Liszt Institute Hungarian Cultural Center; Reem Fouad, Communication Manager at EUNIC Egypt; and Neveen Kenawy, Founder and Director of She Arts Festival. The event was attended by several prominent Egyptian artists, including as Nesma Mahgoub and Marwa Nagy.
Festival activities will take place at the American University in Cairo’s historic Tahrir Square campus, transforming Downtown Cairo into a vibrant hub for music, visual arts, and cultural exchange. This year’s program will welcome artists from Egypt as well as Spain, Estonia, Italy, Hungary, Portugal, Japan, India, and Indonesia, reinforcing She Arts’ growing international profile while encouraging meaningful exchange between cultures.
For the first time, She Arts is collaborating with Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment to present a series of art exhibitions at Cinema Radio Passage and The Factory. This initiative reflects a shared vision to revive Downtown Cairo as a dynamic cultural destination while celebrating its rich architectural heritage through contemporary artistic experiences.
The sixth edition presents a distinctive program of exclusive productions, cultural events, and artistic performances making their world premiere. Blending music, visual arts, and multidisciplinary cultural experiences, the program reflects the festival’s commitment to supporting innovative artistic expression that embodies its vision and cultural values, while offering audiences one-of-a-kind performances created exclusively for the She Arts Festival stage.
As part of this year’s program, She Arts Festival will also present a special tribute honoring legendary Egyptian composer and musician Hani Shanouda in recognition of his exceptional artistic legacy and pioneering contribution to contemporary Egyptian music. Bringing together the female artists who have collaborated with him throughout his career, the tribute will celebrate the enduring influence of his work and the generations of musicians he has inspired.
Speaking during the press conference, Neveen Kenawy, Founder and Festival Director of She Arts, stated: “We believe that art does more than change the world; it changes the way people see one another. That is why we chose ‘Voices of Peace: A Global Symphony’ as this year’s theme. Every voice and every culture has the power to contribute to a shared symphony built on peace.” She added: “The festival remains committed to providing women with a platform to express themselves, inspire others, and receive the recognition they deserve. We firmly believe that women are not simply participants in the artistic landscape; they are among its most influential creators, playing a vital role in shaping cultural and creative movements around the world.”
Among this year’s featured performers are internationally acclaimed Egyptian mezzo-soprano Farrah El Dibany, artist Nesma Mahgoub, and vocalist Marwa Nagy. Additional program announcements and participating artists will be revealed in the coming weeks.
The festival will also continue hosting the She Arts Music Competition, one of its flagship annual initiatives dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging musical talent. This competition provides aspiring musicians with the opportunity to showcase their work before a distinguished jury and live festival audiences.
Following its widely celebrated appearance during the festival’s second edition, the Al Nour Wal Amal Orchestra will return to the She Arts stage this year, reaffirming the festival’s commitment to championing inspiring artistic voices and inclusive cultural experiences.
Over the past five editions, She Arts has established itself as one of the region’s leading international cultural festivals, welcoming more than 2,000 artists from around the world, attracting over 21,000 visitors, and supporting more than 1,000 emerging female artists through collaborations with dozens of local and international partners.
As the Middle East’s first international festival dedicated to women’s empowerment through the arts, She Arts continues to strengthen cultural dialogue and creative exchange between Egypt and the world. Through its sixth edition, the festival reaffirms its belief that art remains one of humanity’s most powerful tools for building understanding, celebrating diversity, and inspiring lasting peace.
