The 13th Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF)
(1-26 October 2025)
Al Farida Rooftop
Abdel-Khalek Tharwat St, Downtown, Cairo
Fri 10 and Sat 11, the work will be performed in Arabic at 6pm and in English at 8pm: Rooftop Rituals performance is a multidisciplinary dwelling on a classic downtown rooftop.
Two physical performers and a musician invite you to become part of their playful explorations of this in-between space. Linger with them between city and sky, between private and public, history and potential, chaos and overview, care and neglect. In movements, sounds, texts and gentle invitations towards audience interaction, the rooftop becomes a space of wonder, wander, creativity and connection.
________________________________________________
The 33 Arab Music Festival and Conference
(16-25 October 2025)
Arab Music Institute
22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373
Thurs 16, 8.30pm: The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble features singers: Reem Hamdy, Hannan El-Kholy, Ahmed Sabry and many more in a concert, conducted by maestro Farouk El-Bably.
Cairo Opera House
Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144
The Fountain Theatre
Thurs 16, 8.30pm: The opening concert of the festival features superstar singer Amal Maher, conducted by maestro Tamer Faizy.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre)
Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106
Thurs 16, 8.30pm: A concert by Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing featuring singers: Mohamed Tarek, Walaa Tolba, and Ahmed Ragab. Moroccan singer Fouad Zabady gives a concert, conducted by maestro Hisham Nabawy.
Beit Al-Seheimi
Al-Moez St, Al-Darb Al Asfar Alley, Al-Gamaleya District, Tel 02 2787 8865
Every Sunday, 7.30pm (Free entry): The Nile Troupe for Folk Instruments, founded by artist Zakariya El-Hagawy, performs dances and songs from Upper Egypt on mizmar, tabla and other traditional musical instruments.
Every Friday, 8pm (Free entry): “Alaragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel” (The Karakouz and The Shadow Puppet), a free public performance by clowns in Al-Muaaz Street, presented by Wamda and directed by its founder and scripter Nabil Bahgat.
Cairo Opera House
Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144
Main Hall
Fri 10, 8pm: The Cairo Opera House celebrates its 37th anniversary.
Sat 11, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
Mon 13, 8pm: A dance performance (China).
Open-Air Theatre
Thurs 9, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre concert.
Al-Ghouri Dome
111 Al-Azhar St, Al-Ghouriya, Tel 02 2506 0227
Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music
(Performances every Sat and Wed, 7pm).
Heliopolis Public Library
42 Al-Oroba St, off Beirut St, Misr Al-Gedida, Tel 011 42464426
Mon 13, 8pm: Tranquil Note band performs a selection of tracks from different genres; jazz, tango, waltz, classics and Oriental music.
Makan
1 Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 2792 0878
Every Tuesday, 8pm: Mawawil features vocalists Hend and Sara in a repertoire of traditional music of the Nile Delta, Al Jaafra music played by Arab Tribes from Aswan and Nass Makan band.
Every Wednesday, 8pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher ensemble featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sabah.
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Al-Fustat St, Ain El Sira, Old Cairo
Wed 15, 8pm: Puccini’s Opera Contemporary Dance. Voci di Donne Compagnia Artemis Danza, with this new creation by Monica Casadei, dedicates its artistic project to four fascinating heroines of the composer Giacomo Puccini whose centenary since his death falls: Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Mimì and Turandot. The protagonists of Puccini's Opera are women who are as different as they are linked by a thread of topical and timeless stories. Tragic love, thwarted and opposed love, the cruel love that annihilates, the lust for possession that leads to destruction. Choreography, direction, sets, lights and costumes by Monica Casadei, music by Giacomo Puccini, original music and musical elaborations by Fabio Fiandrini, and Luca Vianini.
Room Art Space & Café
10 Etihad Al Mohamin, Garden City, Tel 01000 068 159
Thurs 2, 8pm: Ali Arafa will be performing songs from his debut EP, giving you a taste of some unreleased projects, and vibing with you on a few R&B/Soul covers.
Tues 7, 8pm: Karaoke night.
The Spot mall, infront of AUC Gate 4, New Cairo
Thurs 2, 9pm: Karaoke night.
Wed 8 and Thurs 9, 9pm: Karaoke night.
El-Samer Theatre
Madinet Al-Aalam, Cornish Al-Nile, Agouza, Cairo, Tel 010 55156030
Thurs 9, 7-9pm: A fusion of piano and oud by oud player Mauro Sigura and pianist Andrea Manzoni. Manzoni and Sigura, blending jazz, Arab-Ottoman echoes and diverse traditions into one immersive musical journey. (Free entry, but reservation is required through the link: https://www.eventbrite.it/e/migrantes-piano-e-oud-tickets-1751429716429
El Sawy Culturewheel
End of 26th of July St, underneath the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448
River Hall
Thurs 9 and Fri 10, 7pm: An evening of poetry and music features vernacular poet Amr Hassan.
Sat 11, 8pm: Voice band.
Sun 12, 8pm: Singing recital by Abeer El-Salem.
Tues 14, 8pm: Singing recital by Rotana Selim.
Thurs 16, 8pm: A concert by the unique voice Dina El-Wedidi.
Wisdom Hall
Thurs 9, 8pm: Singing recital by Mishel Mesak.
Sat 11, 8pm: Waslet Samaa troupe performs religious chants.
Wed 15, 8pm: El Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of late singer Abdel-Halim Hafez performing a number of his best songs.
Word Hall
Fri 10, 8pm: Stand-up comedy show by Konafa Comedy Night.
Teatro Arkan
Arkan Plaza, El-Sheikh Zayed, Giza, Egypt
Fri 10, 8pm: Tablet El Sitt band gives a concert where authentic Egyptian folklore comes to life through music, singing, and dancing.
ALEXANDRIA
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999
Conference Centre Small Hall
Thurs 9, 8pm: Alexandria Contemporary Art Days present
Walad (a boy) in Alexandria musical performance.
Conference Centre Main Hall
Fri 10, 8pm: The Egyptian-Scottish duo Ayoub Sisters will give a concert, accompanied by the BA Orchestra, conducted by maestro Nayer Nagui, and the BA Choir.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 9 October, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
Short link: