MIDDLE EAST (Enmaeya News) - October 29, 2025

The 17th Cairo International Jazz Festival, scheduled from October 30 to November 7, 2025, will pay tribute to the late Lebanese composer Ziad Rahbani, according to official festival announcements. 

This year’s edition will spotlight Rahbani’s legacy through a dedicated concert finale, a film screening, panel discussions, and reinterpretations of his musical works. 

According to Egypt Independent, the concluding “A Tribute to Ziad Rahbani” concert will bring together prominent regional artists, such as Hazem Shaheen, Hany Adel, Rana Haggag, Nouran Abutaleb, and Alyaa Nada, supported by the Egyptian Recording Orchestra under the baton of Wagdy El Fiwy. 

More than 100 artists from over 12 countries are expected to perform, reflecting a diverse program of jazz, cross‑genre fusion, and cultural exchange. 

In addition to musical performances, the festival will feature workshops, lectures, and film screenings that explore Rahbani’s influence on modern Arab music and theater, particularly his fusion of Arabic lyricism with jazz improvisation.

Rahbani, who died in July 2025, is regarded as a key innovator in bridging regional musical and social themes. 

Ticket sales are underway via the festival’s official platform. Organizers emphasize that this edition not only celebrates jazz’s international language but also reaffirms Rahbani’s role in shaping contemporary Arab culture. 

The festival faces a dual challenge: honoring a towering cultural figure while appealing to both jazz purists and new audiences in the region.