From Al-Mutanabbi Street to Iraqi Maqam: Ottawa Festival Celebrates Iraqi Culture
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Ottawa is preparing to host the Iraqi Festival from October 10 to 17, 2026, organized by the Iraqi Canadian Society-Ottawa, with a week-long programme bringing together books, caricature art, history and traditional music in a celebration of Iraqi culture and heritage.
The society had previously announced the festival dates before releasing the detailed programme and venues. Tawasul News earlier reported that the event would run from October 10 to 17 as a week dedicated to Iraqi art, culture and heritage in the Canadian capital.
The programme begins on Saturday, October 10, with the third edition of the Arabic Book Fair "Al-Mutanabbi Street," running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Chapman Mills Community Building. A caricature exhibition titled "The Brush of Muayad Naama" will take place at the same venue and during the same hours.
The Chapman Mills Community Building is located at 424 Chapman Mills Drive in Ottawa's Barrhaven area and is operated as a community facility by the City of Ottawa.
On Tuesday, October 13, the festival will continue with a cultural lecture and book signing for "Nation in a Taxi" by Majid Zagier, scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 1445 Woodroffe Avenue in Nepean.
Another cultural event will follow on Thursday, October 15, when Dr. Dargam Al-Shalah presents a lecture titled "The Code of Hammurabi: History and Eternity," from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the same Woodroffe Avenue location.
The festival concludes on Saturday, October 17, with "An Evening of Iraqi Maqam," featuring the Baghdad Heritage Band at Richcraft Theatre inside the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans. Doors are scheduled to open at 7:30 p.m.
The programme brings together several distinctive elements of Iraqi cultural heritage, from Baghdad's historic Al-Mutanabbi Street and the Code of Hammurabi to Iraqi maqam music, contemporary literature and caricature art.
