Media Center

Muharraq Nights Festival continues to illuminate the Pearling Path, transforming the historic city of Muharraq into a vibrant hub for culture and tourism in the Kingdom of Bahrain. As the weekend approaches, the festival refreshes its lineup with new events across various fields, including arts, design, music, tours, and workshops, all part of Celebrate Bahrain 2024.

Mrs. Dana Yousif Abdulghani, Director of National Heritage at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, stated that this year’s festival has been designed to offer new experiences throughout the month. She highlighted that, starting from the 18th of December, the festival presents a variety of cultural, musical, and artistic experiences, along with family-friendly activities. These events showcase Bahraini artists and entrepreneurs, providing them with a platform to engage with audiences and expand their local and regional presence. She emphasized that the festival aims to offer visitors new, evolving content with each visit, whether through innovative activities or events.

Mrs. Abdulghani further noted that all historic houses along the Pearling Path are open year-round to welcome visitors. This year, festival attendees have the unique opportunity to explore these houses and discover their exceptional exhibits, which reflect Bahrain’s rich pearling heritage. The festival offers extraordinary visual experiences through art exhibitions featuring dozens of artists from Bahrain and beyond. Many of these exhibitions are made possible through collaborations with various galleries and institutions, such as the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research, Al Riwaq Art Space, AlBareh Art Gallery, Art Concept, and The Art Station. She added: “We invite everyone to explore this distinctive cultural and artistic diversity in Muharraq at this time, and to embark on a unique experience that blends heritage and modernity in a lively atmosphere full of authenticity and creativity.” She stressed that Muharraq is open to all, with every corner telling a story from Bahrain's rich heritage.

In design, new brands are opening their doors to the public, showcasing a variety of creative products at Suq Al Qaysariyyah, Siyadi Shops, Suq Nights at the Pearling Path Visitor and Experience Centre, and Amarat Ali Rashed Fakhro (II). Additionally, a new series of children’s workshops, including live painting and stencil art, will be launched. Other workshops will continue at Sophia Bookstore and Children’s Creativity Hub at the Pearling Path Visitor and Experience Centre.

For culinary experiences, new restaurants and cafes will join Suq Barahat Fakhro, Suq Block 216 (In front of Al Jalahma House), Suq Block 213 (In Front of Suq Al Qaysariyyah), Siyadi Shops, and Suq Nights, offering a wide range of menus to satisfy diverse tastes. In music, Muharraq Nights will feature a new series of musical evenings celebrating Bahraini and international creativity.

For the first time, Cinema Akil will run its curated program from 19 to 23 December, screening a selection of award-winning independent films from the Arab world and beyond. These outdoor screenings will take place daily at Block 209. As seating is limited, reservations can be made via the Pearling Path website, www.pearlingpath.bh. The film lineup includes culturally diverse titles such as the Jordanian drama Inshallah a Boy, the Japanese film Perfect Days by Wim Wenders, the animated masterpiece The Boy and the Heron by Hayao Miyazaki, the touching Saudi film Mandoob, and the documentary Bye Bye Tiberias by Lina Soualem, which explores themes of family and identity.

Muharraq Nights Festival continues daily until 30 December, from 5 PM to 10 PM Sunday to Wednesday, and from 5 PM to midnight Thursday to Saturday. It is organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, with strategic support from GFH Financial Group and the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, as well as partnerships with art galleries and entrepreneurs.

For more details on the festival events and locations, visit the official Pearling Path website at www.pearlingpath.bh or follow on social media @CultureBah, @pearlingpath.