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The 34th Bahrain International Music Festival returns this year carrying to its audiences a blend of artistic expressions that bridge heritage and renewal. Organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the festival opens on 2 October 2025 and continues for two weeks, presenting evenings that span a wide spectrum of musical forms, from orchestral and operatic works to jazz, Fan al-Sawt, and folk traditions, taking place at some of Bahrain’s most prominent cultural landmarks, including the Bahrain National Theatre, the Cultural Hall, and the houses of traditional music in Muharraq and Riffa.

The opening night at the Bahrain National Theatre will feature a special performance by the Cairo Opera House in tribute to the legendary Umm Kulthum, led by Maestro Ihab Abdel Hamid and featuring opera stars Nehad Fathy and Ghada Adam. The evening will revive the timeless classical atmosphere that defined the music of the Arab world’s greatest diva, reflecting the deep presence of Arab music in the hearts of audiences.
On the following evening, 3 October, the spotlight shifts to the Cultural Hall, which will host many of the festival’s highlights. Bahraini artist Abdulla Haji will appear with the Rouh collective in a concert entitled Jazz Muharraqi, presenting original compositions inspired by his album Moraba’at interwoven with folkloric rhythms.
Bahraini musical heritage will hold a special place in the programme, beginning with the Qalali Folk Band on 4 October at Dar Al Muharraq, celebrating Fjiri, inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On 6 October, the Dar Bin Harban Folk Band will present a performance featuring Ardha, Liwa, Khamari, and other traditions at its home in Muharraq. The Dar Shabab Al Riffa Folk Band will follow on 11 October with an evening that highlights Marboo’a, Mjailisi, and Darza, showcasing the richness and diversity of Bahrain’s folk arts.
The festival also creates musical encounters with other cultures. On 7 October, Italian musician Eugenio Bennato, in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Bahrain, will present his project Music from the World at the Cultural Hall, blending Italian roots with global rhythms. The following evening, 8 October, in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Bahrain, the Renaud Garcia-Fons Quartet will perform Silk Moon, a project inspired by flamenco and Ottoman musical traditions. From the heart of Europe, the Prague Cello Quartet arrives on 14 October to present an innovative fusion of classical, pop, and rock, while Japanese musician Yosuke Irie, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Bahrain, offers a spiritual journey through the meditative sounds of the shakuhachi bamboo flute on 15 October.
On 10 October, the festival dedicates a poignant evening to honour the legacy of the late Bahraini artist Ali Bahar. The Bahrain Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Maestro Mubarak Najem, will present a symphonic reinterpretation of his most beloved songs at the Bahrain National Theatre. On 11 October, the Cultural Hall will host an evening of Fan al-Sawt, one of the Gulf’s most distinguished vocal traditions that weaves Nabati poetry with the rhythms of the sea and traditional instruments.
The festival concludes on 16 October at the Bahrain National Theatre with Choral Night by the Bahrain Music Band, featuring a group of promising Bahraini voices that embody intergenerational dialogue through the language of song.
Tickets for the events held at the Bahrain National Theatre are available via Platinumlist: https://www.platinumlist.net.
For further details and updates on the Bahrain International Music Festival, please visit the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities’ website at www.culture.gov.bh or follow @CultureBah on social media.