Cairo Jazz Festival to Honour Ziad Rahbani in 2025 Edition

Cairo Jazz Festival has unveiled the full programme for its 17th edition, set to take place from October 30th to November 7th across Cairo and Alexandria. This year’s festival will pay tribute to Lebanese composer Ziad Rahbani, dedicating the edition to his enduring influence on the evolution of modern Arabic music.

Concerts will be held at key cultural venues including the American University in Cairo (Tahrir Square Campus), El Sawy Culturewheel, Teatro Arkan, and Rawabet Art Space, alongside special performances at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Jesuit Cultural Center in Alexandria.

The festival will feature performances by over 100 artists from more than 12 countries, alongside workshops, panels, talks, film screenings, and a range of interactive cultural events. This year’s lineup includes Sara Moullablad, Wust El Balad, and Jamila & The Heroes, in addition to international acts such as Andreas Schaerer (Switzerland), Sanem Kalfa (Netherlands), and Søren Bebe (Denmark). Syrian artist Mohamed Ragab will also make his debut appearance at the festival.

The event will conclude with a tribute concert to Ziad Rahbani, bringing together artists influenced by his work — including Hazem Shaheen, Hany Adel, Rana Haggag, Nouran Abutaleb, and Alya Nada — accompanied by the Egyptian Recording Orchestra under Maestro Wagdy El Fiewy, directed by Basil Hesham. The performance will reinterpret Rahbani’s most iconic compositions through a new artistic lens, blending jazz’s improvisational spirit with the lyrical depth of Arabic melody.

Tickets for all performances and workshops are available now via the Cairo Jazz Festival’s official website.