Historic Muharraq lights up as fourth Muharraq Nights Festival opens

TDT | Manama

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The historic city of Muharraq has come alive with the launch of the fourth Muharraq Nights Festival, transforming its traditional houses and neighbourhoods into hubs of cultural activity. The festival offers a rich programme of exhibitions, workshops, musical performances that blend folk and contemporary styles, visual showcases, and culinary experiences inspired by Bahraini heritage.

Organised through collaboration between public institutions, private partners, entrepreneurs, and regional cultural bodies, the festival forms an integral part of the Celebrate Bahrain Season. This year’s edition expands its scope through new themed stations, larger exhibitions, and partnerships with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, strengthening its regional cultural dimension.

The 2025 festival features more than 560 events, marking significant growth from previous years. Dana Yousif Abdulghani, Director of the National Heritage Directorate at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, said the expanded programme reflects increasing community participation and strong public interest in Muharraq’s cultural revival. She described the festival as a platform that embraces diverse creative disciplines and continues to highlight the renewed heritage value of Muharraq. As part of regional exchange, the festival is hosting exhibitions with Kuwait’s Al Sadu Society, showcasing textile arts inspired by traditional Sadu weaving. Saudi Arabia’s Kalimat House is also participating through a cultural space dedicated to books, arts, musical evenings, and creative programming.

Visitors can also explore visual displays of Bahrain’s Expo 2025 Osaka Pavilion, “Connecting Seas”, along the Pearling Path, as well as the “Public Pages” space, which brings together local and regional publishers.

Muharraq’s heritage houses remain central venues, including the Haneen Houses, which offer new contributions in design and gastronomy, and the revived “Under the Spotlight” project, which activates ten historic shops as cultural sites. The festival runs until 30 December, with daily events along the UNESCO-listed Pearling Path. Free shuttle buses, boat trips, parking options, and mobility services are provided, with full programme details available on pearlingpath.bh and the festival’s social media channels.