The Ministry of Youth Affairs announced that the first stop of the Al Fereej Festival will be held on August 28-29 at the North Sehla Youth Empowerment Centre, launching a year-round community youth initiative across Bahrain’s governorates.

The initiative seeks to transform neighbourhoods and local areas into interactive community spaces that bring together young people and families through programmes centred on talent, creativity, heritage, technology and entertainment.

The first festival stop is being organised in cooperation with the Popular Heritage Committee and will combine Bahraini heritage with contemporary youth interests. The programme will feature activities celebrating national heritage while providing young people opportunities to showcase their talents, creative work and projects.

The festival forms part of the Ministry of Youth Affairs’ efforts to strengthen youth participation in their local communities by creating interactive platforms where young people can contribute to event design and implementation. The initiative also aims to encourage community engagement, initiative and a sense of belonging while strengthening ties among residents.

Built around the concept of “from the community to the community,” the festival will move throughout the year between four locations across Bahrain’s governorates in cooperation with youth empowerment centres. The approach is designed to bring renewed activities closer to residents and turn neighbourhoods into community destinations for different age groups.

Al Fereej Festival primarily targets young people aged 15 to 35, while its programmes are also open to young people and families, creating an inclusive environment that encourages interaction and active participation rather than attendance alone.