Bahrain Pavilion Concludes National Day Celebrations at Expo 2025 Osaka

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Pavilion, themed “Confluence of Seas”, concluded its National Day celebrations at Expo 2025 Osaka amid a vibrant international presence and festive atmosphere that reflected the spirit of cultural exchange.

The four-day celebration, held from September 17 to 20 under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, was organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities across several locations within the Expo site.

The program featured a rich lineup of performances by musical and folk groups, alongside artists and creators who presented diverse showcases that highlighted Bahrain’s cultural identity and heritage.

September 18 marked the official National Day of the Bahrain Pavilion, beginning with experiences of Arabic coffee and calligraphy at the pavilion, followed by a captivating performance by the Bahrain Police Band under the Expo’s iconic Grand Ring, offering audiences a glimpse into Bahrain’s authentic traditions.

The highlight of the celebrations took place in the National Day Hall with the main concert “Music of Bahrain Through the Ages”. The performance guided audiences on a journey from traditional sea chants (nahma) and pearl divers’ songs, to fijiri performed by the Qalali Folk Arts Group, and the traditional sawt genre pioneered by Bahraini legends such as Mohammed bin Fares, Dhahi bin Walid, and Mohammed Zowaid.

The evening concluded with a contemporary fusion of heritage and modernity, featuring Bahraini pianist Noor Al Qassim, whose performance brought a refreshing blend of traditional influences and modern music.

Emerging Bahraini talents including Abdulrahman Awadh, Abdullah Haji, and Mohammed Aseeri also took the stage, under the artistic direction of maestro Ziad Zaiman, showcasing the evolution and dynamism of Bahrain’s music scene across generations.

Complementing the musical program, a visual display on the Grand Hall’s main screen highlighted masterpieces from Bahraini visual artists spanning different eras, featuring works by Abbas Al Mousawi, Abduljabbar Al Ghadhban, Abdullah Al Muharraqi, Abdulkarim Al Bosta, Hussain Al Sunni, Rashid Al Arifi, Rashid Suwar, and Yousif Qassim.