Montreal's Arab World Festival Returns for 27th Edition With Music, Film and Poetry
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Montreal will welcome performers, filmmakers and writers from across the Arab world and beyond when the Arab World Festival returns for its 27th edition from October 30 to November 15, 2026.
The festival's programme stretches across several Montreal venues, bringing together contemporary performances, traditional music, independent cinema and cultural discussions. Alongside ticketed concerts and screenings, audiences will have access to free talks and workshops exploring the connections between Arab cultures and other artistic traditions.
Algerian singer and satirist Baaziz will open the festival on October 30 at Théâtre Beanfield with La Rechute 2. Other highlights include a November 6 performance by Iraqi musician Omar Bashir and Lebanese singer Jahida Wehbe, followed by Toronto-based ensemble Al Qahwa, led by Maryem Tollar, on November 12.
Film screenings at Cinéma du Parc include Youssef Chahine's Egyptian classic Cairo Station, while a November 13 poetry event will bring together voices from Canada's Arab diaspora. The cultural programme also examines language, migration, history, women's experiences and the influence of Arab scholarship on modern science.
The festival will conclude on November 15 with Le Livre des Reines, a musical and poetic production led by Camille Bordet that brings together women's voices and literary traditions from Persia, Europe and Quebec.
