Under the patronage of Ahmed Fouad Hano, Minister of Culture, the Egyptian Opera House, headed by Lamia Zayed, hosts the 32nd session of the Saladin Citadel International Festival for Music and Singing at the historic Citadel of Salah Al-Din.

The festival is held in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities as well as the Tourism Promotion Authority.

The event begins at 8 pm on Thursday, August 15, and is to continue for 14 consecutive days until Wednesday, August 28.

Since its inauguration in 1989, the aim of the Citadel Festival for Music and Singing has been to enrich people’s cultural awareness and bring music to people who might not be interested in attending formal concerts. 

Throughout the years, the festival has grown, presenting concerts at numerous venues located at the Citadel including The Panorama Theatre, Seret El-Gabal, and El-Mahka Theatre.

The festival will include 31 concerts, with two consecutive concerts held daily at Al-Mahka Theater. Additionally, there will be artistic performances by international bands in collaboration with the External Cultural Relations Sector.

The festival also provides a fantastic opportunity for music and singing enthusiasts to enjoy diverse arts and contributes to the enrichment of Egyptian cultural and artistic heritage while attracting tourists and visitors from around the world.

Ticket price for all events is EGP 60, through the booth at the entry of the Citadel.

During the opening ceremony, Dr. Ahmed Hano and Dr. Lamiaa Zayed will honor eleven cultural and intellectual figures who influenced and enriched the cultural and artistic scene in Egypt and the Arab world: Mr. Amr El Kady, (Chairman of the Tourism Promotion Authority), Youssef El Qaeed (writer and member of the Board of Trustees of Damanhour Opera House), Dr. Magdy Saber (Former Chairman of the Cairo Opera House), Fathy Salama (musician),  Maestro Hazem El Kasabgy (conductor of the National Arab Music Ensemble), Yasser El Serafi,(concertmaster of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra), Nesma Abdel Aziz (marimbist), Mahmoud Haggag, (former Head Manager of the Technical Administration at the Cairo Opera House), Abeer Mohamed Omar (General Director of Artistic Coordination and Programs Administration at the Cairo Opera House), the late Mohamed Salem (former Director of the Artistic Activities Administration at the Cairo Opera House), and the late Salah Saleh (team member of the Cairo Opera House workshops).
Following the honoring ceremony, a concert featuring Nesma Abdel Aziz and Carmen Soliman is held.

The program of the Al-Mahki Theater events at the 32nd Saladin Citadel Festival for Music and Singing includes performances by various artists and bands such as Nesma Abdel Aziz, Carmen Soliman, Arabic Music Band, Warda's Songs Night, Black Thema Band, Louay, Amr Selim, Hamza Namira, Glass Onion Band, Hesham Abbas, Fathy Salama and Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Tahami, Dina El-Wedidi, Nadia Mustafa, Ali El-Haggar, Sufi Night, Ehab Tawfik, Abdel Halim Songs Night, Hani Shaker, Cairo Symphony Orchestra, Nesma Mahgoub, Samar Tarek, Mustafa Hagag, Mawawil band, Sheikh Yassin Al-Tihami, Saad Al-Oud, Medhat Saleh, Omar Khairat accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra, and several international artistic performances.

The Festival Programme:

Thursday 15 August
8pm: Marimba player Nesma Abdel Aziz and her band
10pm: Carmen Soliman

Friday 16 August
8pm: Talents Development Children Choir accompanied by Arab Music Ensemble, conducted by Alaa Abdel Salam
10pm: Songs by Warda performed by the singers of the Cairo Opera House, conducted by Alaa Abdel Salam

Saturday 17 August
8pm: Black Theama band
10pm: Singer Loai and his band

Sunday 18 August
8pm: Amr Soliman
10pm: Hamza Namira

Monday 19 August
8pm: Glass Onion
9pm: Indian music 
10pm: Hisham Abbas

Tuesday 20 August
8pm: Fathy Salama and Sheikh Mahmoud El-Tohamy present “Sufism versus Modernism” project
10pm: Dina El-Wedidi

Wednesday 21 August
8pm: Nadia Mostafa and her band
10pm: Ali El-Haggar accompanied by the orchestra under the baton of Ahmed Farag

Thursday 22 August
8pm: Religious chanter Mostafa El-Nagdi
10pm: Ehab Tawfik

Friday 23 August
8pm: Eman Abdel-Ghani accompanied by the Arab Music Ensemble under the baton of Mostafa Helmy
10pm: Hany Shaker accompanied by the Arab Music Ensemble under the baton of Mostafa Helmy

Saturday 24 August
8pm: Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ahmed Atef presents Hollywood films' music
10pm: Nesma Mahgoub

Sunday 25 August
8pm: Samar Tarek and her ensemble
10pm: Mostafa Haggag

Monday 26 August
8pm: Mawlawiya Ensemble
10pm: Religious chanter Sheikh Yassin El-Tohamy

Tuesday 27 August
8pm: Saad El-Oud
10pm: Medhat Saleh accompanied by the orchestra under the baton of Ahmed Amer

Wednesday 28 August
8pm: Talents Development Centre's Orchestra
10pm: Omar Khairat accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra under the baton of Nayer Nagui