Omar Al-Abdallat and Diana Karazon at the opening of “Jerash Festival 2026” Najwa Karam and George Wassouf among the most prominent names attending the festival

The Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts launches its 40th edition officially on Wednesday evening, July 22, 2026, in a highly anticipated opening held at the Northern Theatre inside the ancient city of Jerash, under the esteemed royal patronage, amid cultural and artistic atmospheres expected to carry an exceptional character worthy of the festival’s history and Arab status.

The festival management has selected Jordanian stars Omar Al-Abdallat and Diana Karazon to perform the opening ceremony, in a move that reflects reliance on names with strong public presence and a solid artistic footprint in the Jordanian and Arab music scene.

The choice of Diana Karazon further confirms her position as one of the most prominent Jordanian voices. Observers and critics see her presence at the opening night as embodying the spirit of modern Jordanian song, reflecting her ability to combine local identity with wide Arab reach, making her participation a key element in an opening that holds special significance in the festival’s journey.

In a notable development this season, Karazon marks an exceptional presence as the only artist performing two concerts in the same edition, appearing on opening night on July 22, before returning again to the Southern Theatre on July 30. This move reflects the strong confidence in her popularity and growing artistic presence, and confirms her continued strong connection with the Jerash Festival, which has been a constant milestone in her career between 2019 and 2023.

As for artist Omar Al-Abdallat, known as the “Voice of Jordan,” he returns to the Northern Theatre stage to open the festival for the 16th time in his history, a record that reinforces his position as one of the most consistently present and influential artists at Jerash. Al-Abdallat is preparing to present a selection of his new works alongside his most famous songs that have built him a wide fan base in Jordan and across the Arab world.

His selection to perform the opening carries special significance, as the festival management confirms that this decision comes in recognition of his long artistic career and his prominent role in highlighting Jordanian music regionally and internationally, through works that helped strengthen and develop its national musical identity.

This edition of the Jerash Festival witnesses broad participation from a select group of Arab music stars. Najwa Karam will perform on July 23 at the Southern Theatre in a long-awaited return after a five-year absence, while George Wassouf appears on July 25 after a three-year break.

The festival also features Ahmed Saad for the first time on July 26, and Abadi Al-Johar also appears for the first time on July 29, adding notable diversity to the festival’s artistic program.

On July 30, Diana Karazon and Elissa will perform in a joint concert at the Southern Theatre, while artist Al-Shami appears for the first time on July 31, preceded by a special segment by young artist Lynn Hayek.

The Jerash Festival concludes on August 2, 2026, with a major concert by Egyptian superstar Tamer Hosny, marking his third participation in the festival, amid expectations that the closing night will be one of the most prominent highlights of this edition, which so far appears to be one of the most diverse and rich in terms of names and events.