The Ismailia International Folklore Festival, founded in 1985, kicked off its 20th edition on Tuesday in the Suez Canal city, hosting 20 regional and international troupes.

"We used to host over 30 shows in previous editions of the festival, but with the return of the festival in 2016 we became more selective and focused on diversity," the festival director Maher Kamal told Reuters on the opening ceremony day.

The opening, held at Ismailia Stadium, hosted shows from almost all participating countries in addition to others from across Egypt, with the performance of 'Ismailia Joy', directed by Hisham Atwa, attracting significant attention.

Among the participating countries are Venezuela, Russia, Romania, Greece, Lebanon, Maldives, Indonesia, Palestine and Serbia, in addition to eight groups from Egypt.

The festival is active until 7 September at various arenas, including local sports clubs and national parks of Ismailia in addition to a few street performances.

The coastal city, located 100km east of Cairo, is accessible through a host of transportation modes.

Accommodation costs in Ismailia are lower than in Cairo. Several hotels and resorts are available for different budgets.

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