05 December 2025
Muharraq Nights Launches Its Fourth Edition with Over 560 Events Honouring Heritage and Inspiring Creativity
The historic city of Muharraq hosted the launch of the fourth edition of the Muharraq Nights Festival, as vibrant activity filled its old houses and winding alleyways. Across the festival’s sites, visitors were welcomed to a rich program of art exhibitions, diverse workshops and musical performances blending traditional and contemporary forms. The program also offers interactive visual and culinary experiences inspired by Bahraini heritage, all designed to deepen visitors’ connection to place.
The festival is the result of active collaboration between public and private sectors, entrepreneurs, and cultural organisations within the Kingdom of Bahrain and beyond, offering an immersive experience that coincides with the Celebrate Bahrain Season.
This year’s edition introduces a more diverse program, adding new thematic stations alongside exhibitions and regional partnerships with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait, broadening the festival’s shared cultural dimension and enriching its content.
Muharraq Nights is witnessing significant growth this year, with more than 560 events, marking the festival’s expanding presence compared with previous editions.
Dana Yousif Abdulghani, Director of National Heritage at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, noted that this increase reflects rising community participation and growing interest in this edition’s offerings, which echo the enduring heritage of Muharraq.
She added that the creative and artistic experiences have steadily evolved, now spanning a wider range of activities, programs and workshops, transforming the festival into a vibrant cultural hub that engages audiences of all interests. She further noted that the public is the true investment in this festival and the main driver of its continuity, through their engagement, contribution to shaping the program, and support for the cultural movement.
The festival presents exhibitions in collaboration with the AlSadu Society from Kuwait, highlighting weaving arts inspired by Sadu patterns, opening Saturday, 6 December 2025 at Haneen Raihan.
Kalimat House from Saudi Arabia also enriches the regional presence through a dedicated space for books, art, musical evenings and creative programs, broadening opportunities for cultural exchange.
The festival additionally showcases the Kingdom of Bahrain Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, “Connecting Seas”, through visual displays along the Pearling Path, while the “Public Pages” space celebrates the legacy of print and brings together local and regional publishers and bookstores.
Heritage houses play a central role this year as creative spaces that bridge memory and contemporary expression. Among them, the Haneen Houses host an updated program featuring distinctive contributions in design and food, including an exclusive Assouline showcase and the exhibition “Al Nashil Embroidery: Abdulqader Ahmed”, offering a refined encounter that blends modern aesthetics with Bahraini heritage.
The festival also presents its “Under the Spotlight” project, reintroducing ten historic shops and workshops as active cultural and tourism points, including longstanding establishments such as BuKhammas Centre, dating back to the late nineteenth century; Abduljalil AlHawaj Stores, with more than 155 years of history; and Abdulla AlHamadi Upholstery, whose legacy spans over seventy years.
Muharraq Nights continues daily until 30 December, welcoming visitors from Sunday to Wednesday between 5 PM and 10 PM, and from Thursday to Saturday between 5 PM and 12 AM, along the UNESCO-listed Pearling Path.
The festival also provides an integrated mobility system, including free shuttle buses and boat trips from four main ports to Qal’at Bu Mahir. Visitors arriving by car may use a range of free and paid parking options, along with golf buggies available for a service fee at seven designated stations. Specially equipped buses are provided for visitors with disabilities.
The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities invites the public to explore festival activities that require prior registration through the daily program. Details are available on the Pearling Path website: www.pearlingpath.bh, as well as on social media @CultureBah and @pearlingpath.
