Nagat El Saghira: The first singer ever to receive the title since the award was launched The award reflects the extent of her artistic impact and her firmly established status in the Arab cultural consciousness

In a remarkable cultural tribute, the great Egyptian artist Nagat El Saghira was awarded the title of “Cultural Personality of the Year” in the 20th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2026, marking a historic precedent as the first singer ever to receive this honor since the award’s inception, in a step that reflects the magnitude of her artistic influence and her deeply rooted status in the Arab cultural memory.

According to the official statement issued by the award via Instagram, her selection came in recognition of an exceptional career that helped shape the features of modern Arab music. Her warm voice and refined performance made her one of the most prominent voices to establish a distinctive artistic identity whose impact has extended across multiple generations.

A living presence in the listener’s consciousness

The statement also highlighted her major role in performing sung poetry, as her works contributed to bringing Arabic poetry closer to the public and giving the language a living presence in the listener’s consciousness, alongside a musical legacy that remains strongly present in the Arab cultural memory.

This achievement represents a new milestone in her record, as she becomes the third Egyptian figure to receive this honor, after composer Omar Khairat and Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb, reflecting the continued influential Egyptian presence in this prominent cultural forum.

Nagat El Saghira’s artistic journey spans decades, during which she presented dozens of timeless works that cemented her status. She collaborated with leading composers such as Riad Al-Sunbati, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, and Baleegh Hamdy, and performed lyrics by major poets such as Nizar Qabbani, giving her works exceptional artistic and literary depth.

Her presence was not limited to singing, as she also participated in cinema, appearing in several films, most notably The Black Candles, remaining one of the most iconic artistic figures who helped shape the modern Arab artistic landscape and left an indelible mark.