Dimasheq – Culture
The first edition of the Damascus International Arabic Poetry Festival begins today, Sunday, at the Damascus Opera House. Organized by the Ministry of Culture, the festival will continue until August 7, bringing together poets, writers, and intellectuals from across the Arab world in a major cultural event celebrating Arabic poetry and promoting cultural life in Syria.
The festival hosts 55 poets, writers, and lecturers representing 16 Arab countries. Its diverse program combines poetry, literature, art, and intellectual discussions, providing a platform for cultural exchange and dialogue while introducing audiences to contemporary Arab literary and poetic experiences.
Over the course of six days, the festival will feature classical Arabic and Nabati poetry evenings, literary lectures and seminars addressing poetry and culture, as well as artistic and musical performances. The program also includes a panel discussion highlighting the work and cultural contributions of Kuwaiti poet Suad Al-Sabah.
In addition, the festival will host a live podcast, presentations of cultural projects, and guided tours for participants to some of Syria’s most prominent historical and archaeological sites, including Damascus, Bosra, Saydnaya, and Maaloula, showcasing the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
The festival will also feature fine arts and book exhibitions, book-signing events for newly published literary works, and heritage activities held in the foyer of the Damascus Opera House, reflecting its commitment to bringing together poetry, the arts, and cultural heritage in a comprehensive Arab cultural celebration.
