Crisis and resignations at Cairo Opera House festival

The 34th Arab Music Festival, scheduled for October 20 to 30, 2026, is facing a deepening crisis characterized by budget disputes, artist withdrawals, and administrative instability at the Cairo Opera House.

While several artists previously pledged support through fee reductions, the situation has escalated into a public controversy. Dr. Reda El-Wakil, President of the Egyptian Opera House, attributed the absence of certain major stars to limited festival funding. This explanation drew sharp criticism from musicians such as Maestro Hani Farhat and composer Amir Abdel Meguid, who argued that such reasoning damages the festival’s international reputation.

Artist withdrawals have continued to mount. Ali El Haggar cited insufficient funding for his ensemble, while Mohamed Tharwat stated that participating under current conditions would be ‘an insult to Egyptian art’. Marwa Nagy reiterated her withdrawal, noting a lack of official administrative engagement despite her offer to reduce fees by over 50 percent.

In response to the mounting pressure and controversy, Dr. Reda El-Wakil has announced his resignation from the presidency of the Egyptian Opera House.