Egyptian Opera House faces crisis ahead of Arab Music Festival

The 34th edition of the Arab Music Festival, scheduled for October 20 to 30, 2026, is facing significant turmoil involving budget disputes, artist withdrawals, and administrative resignations at the Egyptian Opera House.

The crisis intensified following statements by Dr. Reda El-Wakil, President of the Egyptian Opera House, who attributed the absence of certain major stars to limited festival funding. This sparked backlash from musicians like Maestro Hani Farhat and composer Amir Abdel Meguid, who criticized the reasoning as damaging to the festival's international standing.

Several prominent artists have withdrawn from the event. Ali El Haggar cited insufficient funding for his musical ensemble, while Mohamed Tharwat stated his participation would be an insult to Egyptian art. Marwa Nagy also issued a statement clarifying her withdrawal, noting a lack of official administrative engagement and a proposed fee reduction of over 50 percent compared to the previous year.

In response to the mounting controversy, Dr. Reda El-Wakil announced his resignation from the presidency of the Egyptian Opera House. Despite the tension, some artists, including Omar Khairat, Assi El Hallani, and Amal Maher, have reportedly agreed to accept reduced fees to support the festival.