Zarqa Summer Arab Theater Festival kicks off Saturday with the participation of six Arab countries
Amman2 min read
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The 24th edition of the Zarqa Summer Arab Theater Festival will kick off on Saturday, September 12, 2026, under the patronage of Minister of Culture Mustafa Rawashdeh. It is organized by the Zarqa Theater Arts Troupe with support from the Ministry of Culture, the Jordanian Artists Association, the Greater Amman Municipality, and the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts.
The events will continue until September 18 at the theater and halls of the King Abdullah II Cultural Center in Zarqa, with the participation of theater troupes from Jordan, Palestine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Sultanate of Oman. The program includes competitive performances, critical sessions, an intellectual symposium, and cultural and honorary events, before the announcement of results and the distribution of awards at the closing ceremony.
The festival opens with the Omani play "On the Verge of Oblivion" at 8:00 PM, while the performances continue with Tunisia presenting the play "Bell" on September 13, Iraq with "Children of the Earth" on September 14, Saudi Arabia with "Until Hope Fades" on September 15, Palestine with "Goods" on September 16, and Jordan with "Mirage" on September 17.
Artist Abeer Issa chairs the festival's supreme committee, alongside a number of artists and specialists, while artist Zeinati Qudsia chairs the jury, with the membership of Dr. Najwa Qandaqji and Egyptian director Adel Hassan.
The opening ceremony will witness the honoring of Iraqi artist and director Dr. Jawad Al-Asadi and Jordanian producer Issam Hajjawi, in recognition of their contributions to the artistic and cultural movement.
The program also includes a symposium titled "The Role of Theater Performances in Promoting National and Arab Values in Their Human Dimension," with the participation of Dr. Mukhallad Al-Zyoudi, artist Osama Al-Masri, and director Adel Hassan, moderated by journalist Rasmi Mahasneh.
As part of the accompanying program, Amman will host three performances at the Zaha Cultural Center at 4:00 PM, including the Omani performance on September 13, the Iraqi one on September 15, and the Palestinian one on September 17.
The festival aims to enhance Arab theatrical exchange, support young talents, and consolidate Zarqa's presence as a city of culture and arts, in addition to discussing the role of theater in confronting rumors and fake news and enhancing community awareness.
