Egyptian maestro Hani Farhat has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the 2026 Arabic Music Festival, criticizing a festival official over the event's lineup. Farhat took to Twitter to express his disapproval, sharing images of the festival's schedule and his experience as the festival's director in its 32nd edition. He disagreed with statements made by Dr. Reza El-Wakil, head of the Egyptian Opera House.
Farhat's comments come after El-Wakil's statements about the absence of several singing stars from the festival, which led to several artists, including Mohamed Tharwat and May Farouk, announcing their withdrawal. Farhat argued that in his previous role as festival director, no Arab star requested a fee or objected to participating. Instead, they were proud to be part of the festival.
The 2026 Arabic Music Festival has been marred by controversy, with several artists announcing their withdrawal. Mohamed Tharwat was one of the first to announce his non-participation, followed by May Farouk's endorsement of his decision. Other artists, including Ali El-Haggar and Amal Maher, have also apologized for not participating in the festival.
Farhat emphasized that the festival was supported by the Egyptian state and the Ministry of Culture every year. He attributed the success of the festival during his tenure to hard work, marketing, and attracting major sponsors. He urged officials not to blame the state's failure or the festival's management for their shortcomings.
The Egyptian maestro stressed that the festival's success was not solely due to government support. He stated that the event was more significant than any individual or cycle, and Egypt's reputation should not be used as an excuse for failure. Farhat concluded that success has its people who worked for it, and failure has its responsible individuals.
The crisis surrounding the 34th edition of the Arabic Music Festival has sparked a heated debate among artists and officials. The festival's lineup has been criticized, and several high-profile artists have announced their non-participation. The controversy has raised questions about the festival's management and the reasons behind the artists' withdrawals.
The situation remains unresolved, with no official statement from the festival's organizers. The controversy has highlighted the challenges faced by cultural events in Egypt and the need for effective management and communication. The 2026 Arabic Music Festival is expected to continue, but the absence of several prominent artists has raised concerns about its success.
Key points
- Hani Farhat criticizes a music festival official over the 2026 Arabic Music Festival crisis
- Several artists, including Mohamed Tharwat and May Farouk, have announced their withdrawal from the festival
- Farhat attributes the success of the festival during his tenure to hard work, marketing, and attracting major sponsors
