As preparations continue for the 34th Festival and Conference of Arab Music in Egypt, the high-profile withdrawal of multiple star performers and a leadership resignation have created backstage turmoil ahead of the late October 2026 opening.
Artist Withdrawals Disrupt Arab Music Festival Preparations
The 34th edition of the Festival and Conference of Arab Music, scheduled to run across 11 days from October 20 to October 30, 2026, has encountered a wave of artist exits and administrative friction before a single note is played on the Grand Theater stage at the Cairo Opera House. The event, which returns to the Grand Theater after previously shifting to the Fountain Theater, features a program spanning 22 musical evenings with roughly 70 performers.
Yet that roster has shifted significantly. Veteran singer Ali El Haggar announced his withdrawal, marking his first absence in a 30-year span of participation, citing professional disagreements and financial allocations that he argued failed to respect the standing of the performers.
He was joined by Mohamed Tharwat, who released a sharp statement criticizing how artist compensation and budget limitations were aired publicly during the festival press briefing. Tharwat noted that his own history with the institution involved donating his fee for cultural delegation events abroad, arguing that artists should not be reduced to figures in a financial shortfall narrative.
Performers Cancel Appearances Amid Administrative Disputes
Similar tensions prompted Ahmed Gamal to cancel his festival performance after administrative remarks characterized his slot as a professional courtesy stemming from his family connection to festival director Maestro Mohamed El Mougy. Gamal countered that he had performed at the opera’s festivals annually since 2013, calling the description an affront to his career.
Meanwhile, Marwa Nagy addressed accusations regarding fee demands by clarifying that her offered compensation was less than half her previous rate, and that scheduling chaos forced her exit. Compounding the organizational instability, Reda El Wakeel announced his apology for not continuing in the presidency of the Cairo Opera House in the wake of the press conference fallout.
Performers Staying the Course and Appeals for Unity
Despite the departures of Tharwat, El Haggar, Sabry, Gamal, Nagy, Mai Farouk, Assi El Hallani, and Reham Abdel Hakim, other prominent artists remain on the official schedule. Medhat Saleh, Nadia Mostafa, Ghada Rejab, and Mohamed El Helw are set to perform, alongside vocalists such as Amal Maher.
Institution representatives have urged performers to set aside the disputes. Opera board member Amr Abdeen issued a public appeal for artists to return, emphasizing that national cultural institutions stand above temporary disagreements.
