Wednesday 04/February/2026 – 10:48 PM
In an enchanting atmosphere carrying the fragrance of authentic heritage and the folkloric melodies of international and local folk arts, and in the interaction of the masses from the people of Arous al-Mashati and the tourist groups, Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Minister of Culture, and Major General Dr. Ismail Kamal, Governor, inaugurated the ceremony. Aswan The 13th Aswan International Festival of Culture and Arts at the Fawzi Fawzi Summer Theater on the Nile Corniche.
This came amid the participation of 14 foreign and Egyptian folk arts groups, and the presence of Engineer Amr Lashin, Deputy Governor, Major General Maher Hashem, Secretary-General, Major General Khaled Al-Labban, Chairman of the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, and Abdul Hakim Al-Waer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa Region, in addition to executive and community leaders.
In his speech, Dr. Ismail Kamal welcomed the Minister of Culture and the guests of Aswan from friendly foreign countries, in addition to the Egyptian bands, and their participation in the festival activities on the land of Zahrat Al-Janoub and among its temples, museums, tourist attractions, location and cultural centers, considering it the capital of African youth, economy and culture, as announced by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Aswan won the Tourism City of the Year award
The Governor of Aswan confirmed that this culminated in Aswan receiving many international tourism, cultural and artistic awards during the recent period, the most recent of which was the announcement of Aswan receiving the Tourism City of the Year Award organized by the Organization of the Eight Developing Countries for Economic Cooperation for the year 2026, to complement this with this festival, which since its first session has added cultural and artistic weight and to serve as an important addition to the tourism, cultural and artistic map, and an opportunity to shed light on the many advantages of this governorate. Promising, which is considered a unique model of the genius of man and place, and to continue being the royal door to Africa, and the bridge of communication with it, Aswan possesses many economic, touristic and scientific components, in addition to a huge reserve of human creativity and cultural heritage that reflects the spirit of authenticity and nobility of history. The Governor of Aswan pointed out that this atmosphere is full of joy, enjoyment of cultural and human heritage, and also national feelings mixed with pride. Pride confirms that culture and art are one of the most important bridges of communication and rapprochement between peoples.
The celebratory activities were preceded by the Minister of Culture and the Governor of Aswan inspecting the exhibition of handicrafts, environmental products and plastic arts.
It should be noted that the festival’s activities extend until February 9, and include 8 foreign bands representing the countries of Greece, Sudan, Palestine, Latvia, India, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, and Montenegro, and 6 Egyptian folk arts bands affiliated with the Palaces of Culture, which include the bands of Aswan, Al-Arish, Port Said, Kafr El-Sheikh, Al-Anfoushi, and Beni Suef in an integrated artistic panel.
