The 11th edition of Carthage Music Days, set to take place from October 3-10, 2026, will feature a range of new experiences and venues. According to Mounther Falah, artistic director of the festival and head of the organizing committee, this edition will include a number of innovations, both in terms of programming and venues. The festival will include activities within four prisons and one rehabilitation center.
One of the main innovations of this edition is the inclusion of prisons in the festival program. Falah explained that the idea came after following the experiences of the Carthage Theater Days, which saw theater performances held within prison institutions. This led to the question of whether it was possible to bring music to these spaces as well. The festival has been working with the General Directorate of Prisons and Reform, which has reacted positively to the initiative.
The goal of this initiative is not only to provide a space for entertainment and relaxation from the routine of life inside prison but also to enable prisoners to discover artistic talents they may have and work on developing them. Music can be a means of discovering talents and opening up new horizons for prisoners. The festival will also organize a training day in a prison, where prisoners who wish to participate in the technical side of the festival will be able to contribute.
The festival program will feature 26 performances, including 14 Tunisian performances and international performances from around 15 countries. The programming aims to diversify musical styles, including rock, jazz, jazz-fusion, pop, traditional, and folk music. The festival will also feature experiences that combine Moroccan music with rock and Tunisian traditional music.
The city of culture will host a large part of the performances, with a vision to make the audience's experience begin from the moment they enter the city and continue through the different festival spaces. The Habib Bourguiba Street will also be part of the program, along with activities outside the capital, as part of a trend towards strengthening the festival's presence in the regions.
For the first time, the festival will organize a "Jazz Camp" experience, which will allow musicians and artists to meet, work, and train for a limited period. This experience will be developed and expanded in future editions. The festival will also offer tickets at affordable prices, ranging from 15 dinars for some performances to 60 dinars for the most expensive concerts.
The festival's organizing committee hopes that this edition will enable the expansion of the festival's presence by diversifying the programming, musical styles, and participating countries, as well as opening up to prisons and regions. The festival aims to provide a platform for discovering new talents and promoting musical diversity.
Key points
- The 11th edition of Carthage Music Days will feature activities within prisons and a "Jazz Camp" experience.
- The festival program will include 26 performances from Tunisia and around the world.
- The festival aims to promote musical diversity and discover new talents.
