Festival Arabesques
Arts of the Arab world in Montpellier, Hérault
About Festival Arabesques
Festival Arabesques in Montpellier
Festival Arabesques is a must-attend event in the cultural life of Montpellier and the Hérault department, in Occitanie. Since its creation in 1985, this event has established itself as a benchmark for Arab world arts, attracting a loyal and curious audience each year.
Presentation
Major annual festival dedicated to the discovery of Arab world arts: music, dance, cinema, exhibitions, in September.
An event rooted in its territory
Located in the heart of Montpellier, Festival Arabesques takes advantage of the exceptional setting of the municipality and its heritage. The event fully participates in the tourist attractiveness of the Hérault department and promotes the cultural, natural, and human riches of the Occitanie region. The Hérault department, bathed by the Mediterranean and crossed by varied landscapes from the coast to the Larzac, offers an ideal setting for hosting quality cultural events.
Program and activities
Each edition of Festival Arabesques offers a varied program combining Arab world arts and conviviality. Visitors can enjoy multiple activities, discoveries, and moments of sharing that make this event so rich. The complete program is announced each year on the official channels of the event.
A convivial event
Festival Arabesques is above all a moment of sharing and conviviality. Whether you are an informed amateur or simply curious, everyone will find something to satisfy their curiosity and have a pleasant time in Montpellier. The warm welcome from the organizers and volunteers makes each edition a memorable experience.
Festival Arabesques — edition 2026
21st edition of the Arabesques Festival, the largest gathering of arts from the Arab world in Europe, from September 8 to 20, 2026 in Montpellier. Concerts, storytelling, stand-up, exhibitions and meetings around Arab world cultures, notably featuring Oum, Bachar Mar-Khalifé, Imarhan, the Anouar Brahem Quartet, Yasmine Hamdan and Souad Massi.
Arabesques Festival 2026 — 21st Edition
The 21st edition of the Arabesques Festival takes place from September 8 to 20, 2026 in Montpellier (Hérault). Organized by the UNi'SONS association, this festival has become the most important cultural event dedicated to the Arab world in Europe, gathering more than 20,000 spectators each year over a period of about fifteen days.
The program blends music, theater, storytelling, stand-up, exhibitions, conferences, children's workshops and literary meetings. Performances are held in several emblematic venues of the city: the Opéra Comédie, the Halle Tropisme, the Théâtre Jean-Claude Carrière and the Domaine d'O, the true heart of the festival.
Programme Festival Arabesques 2026
Monday, September 8 — Opéra Comédie
- Oum — opening concert (Moroccan singer)
Tuesday, September 9 — Opéra Comédie
- Bachar Mar-Khalifé (French-Lebanese musician)
Friday, September 11 — Domaine d'O
- Imarhan (Tuareg band)
- Anouar Brahem Quartet
Saturday, September 12 — Domaine d'O
- Sahravane : Souad Asla, Omar Sosa & Lemma — musical journey between Sahara and Cuba
Sunday, September 13 — Domaine d'O
- Meryem Aboulouafa
- Amine Radi (stand-up)
- Daoud (trumpeter)
Friday, September 18 — Domaine d'O
- Ino · Casablanca
Saturday, September 19 — Domaine d'O
- Yasmine Hamdan
Sunday, September 20 — Domaine d'O
- Abdullah Miniawy
- Samifati & Transe Gnawa Express
- Souad Massi (closing concert)
Highlights Festival Arabesques 2026
- Oum's opening concert at the Opéra Comédie
- The Sahravane project (Souad Asla, Omar Sosa & Lemma)
- Souad Massi's closing concert
- Largest festival of Arab world arts in Europe
Prices Festival Arabesques 2026
Practical information — Festival Arabesques
Practical Information
Location
Montpellier (34000), Hérault.
Access
Travel to Montpellier by road. Parking available near the event site. Consult official information for access details.
Prices
Price: from €8 to €20.
Contact
For more information, consult the official website of the event or contact the Montpellier town hall.
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Where does it take place — Festival Arabesques
Domaine d'O
178 Rue de la Carrierasse, 34090 Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier