The opening ceremony was hosted by television presenter Reham Ibrahim and inaugurated by Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Abdelaziz Konsowa, who was appointed acting culture minister earlier this month.
In his address, Konsowa described culture as "a right for every citizen," saying cultural justice "is not merely a slogan, but a practical reality that we strive to establish."
He said this year's edition reflects the Ministry of Culture's efforts to make theatre more accessible across Egypt through initiatives to discover and support artistic talent in different governorates.
Festival president Mohamed Riad said Mansoura had been chosen as the festival's principal city outside Cairo, reflecting the event's ambition to broaden its geographical reach. The city will host 72 activities, including workshops for people with disabilities, seminars, play readings, masterclasses and three theatrical performances, concluding with Hekayat (Tales), directed by Khaled Galal.
In Cairo, the festival programme includes 23 intellectual seminars and 11 workshops, with around 20,000 people registering to participate.
The opening ceremony also featured Journey, a movement-theatre performance directed by Walid Aouni and presented by graduates of the Movement Expression Training Workshop under the supervision of Karima Bedeir.
Actress, producer, and television presenter Essad Younes was honoured for her five-decade contribution to Egyptian theatre.
Accepting the award, Younes said it was "the first recognition I've received for theatre in my life."
One of Egypt's best-known entertainers, Younes appeared in numerous stage productions during the 1970s and 1980s, including Al Dokhool Bel Malabes Al Rasmiya (Formal Attire Required), Arousah Toganen (A Crazy Bride), and Juha Yahkom Al Madina (Juha Rules the City).
She also called for systematic preservation of Egypt's theatrical heritage, urging that no full theatrical production, whether staged by the state, universities, the private sector, or independent companies, be left undocumented.
The festival also honoured actors Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Abdelaziz, and Shahira, directors Magdy Megahed and Ahmed El-Banhawy, and theatre critic Hamdy El-Gabry.
This year's programme brings together productions from the state, independent companies, universities and private theatres, with performances taking place across several Cairo venues including Al-Salam Theatre, Al-Ghad Theatre, Al-Taliaa Theatre, Miami Theatre, Hanager Arts Centre, the Creativity Centre (Qubbat Al-Ghouri/Center for Cultural Creativity), and Nihad Selaiha Theatre at the Academy of Arts.
Among the adaptations of international literary classics are King Lear, adapted from Shakespeare, Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, adapted by Mahmoud El-Husseiny, and Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, adapted by Ibrahim El-Feky.
The festival also showcases new Egyptian productions, including Metwally and Shafiqa, directed by Amir El-Yamani, Al Teatro, directed by Ahmed Fouad, Voluntary Prison, directed by Bassem Karam, and Seventh Heaven, directed by Mohamed El-Hodry, presented at a variety of Cairo Theatres.
Alongside the performances, the festival introduces a new intellectual forum under the title Theatre and the Audience: Does the Audience Go to Theatre or Does Theatre Go to the Audience?, bringing together directors, actors, critics, and academics to discuss audience development and new approaches to widening public participation in theatre.
Director Khaled Galal chairs the jury for the festival's official competition, joined by former Academy of Arts president Ahlam Younis, actress Aida Fahmy, set designer Amr Abdullah El-Sharif, director Mohamed Zaki, composer Mahmoud Talaat, and critic Ahmed Abu El-Ala.
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