The 8th edition, held under the theme For New Legacy, featured works from approximately 70 artists from Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Kenya, South Africa, Kuwait, Syria, Italy, and Russia, with Palestine as the guest of honour.

Egyptian artist Mohamed Fathi Abu El-Naga presented works titled Art Books. 

Born in 1960 in Tanta, Abu El-Naga graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in 1983 and earned a master's degree in fine arts.

He is the first artist in the Middle East to receive a scholarship from Japan.

He organized the Sharjah Biennale and participated in the Cultural Dialogue Conference in Boston in 2024.

His art bridges the cultural gap between traditional manual crafts and contemporary art.

He is passionate about using eco-friendly and recycled raw materials.

Another Egyptian artist, Mohamed El-Masry, showcased two untitled paintings at the festival.

Born in 1978 in Giza, El-Masry is known for his work in painting and photography.

He earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts education from Helwan University in 2003, followed by a diploma in painting and photography in 2006.

He has participated in numerous international exhibitions in China, Bangladesh, the United States, South Korea, and Germany.

He has received several prestigious awards, including the gold medal in the art category at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

His artistic approach often involves reinterpreting reality through abstraction, analyzing elements, and drawing inspiration from ancient Egyptian art.

Wael Darwish, another participating artist, presented paintings titled Half Dream. 

Born in 1975, Darwish graduated with honours from the Faculty of Fine Arts in 1998 and advanced to the rank of professor.

He has won numerous national and international awards.

Darwish's style blends formal work with mixed media, space installations, and digital art.

His works are a realistic study of contemporary society's reactions to various issues and challenges.