Manama, Dec. 5 (BNA): The historic city of Muharraq witnessed the launch of the fourth edition of the Muharraq Nights Festival, bringing renewed cultural activity to its traditional houses and neighbourhoods. The festival’s venues are hosting a wide range of exhibitions, workshops, musical performances blending folk and contemporary traditions, interactive visual experiences, and culinary displays inspired by Bahraini heritage.

The festival is organised through collaboration between public and private institutions, entrepreneurs, and cultural partners from Bahrain and abroad, offering an integrated cultural experience that coincides with the Celebrate Bahrain Season.

This year’s edition presents a broader cultural programme through new themed stations, expanded 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.

The 2025 festival features more than 560 events, marking significant growth compared with previous editions.

Dana Yousif Abdulghani, Director of the National Heritage Directorate at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, said the increase in programming reflects growing community participation and rising public interest in the festival’s cultural offerings. She noted the festival’s continued role in highlighting the renewed heritage value of the city of Muharraq.

She added that cultural and artistic experiences at Muharraq Nights have expanded year after year, now encompassing a wide range of creative activities, interactive programmes, and artistic workshops. She described the festival as an inclusive platform that embraces diverse specialisations and reflects the varied interests of its audiences, emphasising that public engagement remains central to the festival’s continuity and development.

As part of regional cultural exchange, the festival is hosting exhibitions in cooperation with Kuwait’s Al Sadu Society, highlighting textile arts inspired by traditional Sadu weaving. The opening will take place on Saturday, December 6, at Haneen Raihan.

Kalimat House from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also participating through a dedicated cultural space focused on books, the arts, musical evenings, and creative programmes, further enriching the visitor experience and strengthening cultural ties.

The festival additionally features visual displays showcasing Bahrain’s Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka, titled “Connecting Seas”, along the Pearling Path. The “Public Pages” space celebrates the legacy of printed material by bringing together local and regional publishers and bookstores.

Heritage houses once again take centre stage as cultural venues that bridge memory and contemporary creativity. Among them are the Haneen Houses, which present an updated programme featuring notable contributions in design and gastronomy, including the international publishing house Assouline and the exhibition “Al Nashil Embroidery: Abdulqader Ahmed”. The festival further presents “Under the Spotlight”, a project that revives ten historic shops and workshops in Muharraq, transforming them into active cultural and touristic points. Among these are long-established businesses such as BuKhammas Centre (late 19th century), Abduljalil AlHawaj Stores (over 155 years of craft), and Abdulla Al Hamadi Upholstery (over 70 years).

The festival runs daily until 30 December, welcoming visitors from Sunday to Wednesday, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM, and from Thursday to Saturday, 5:00 PM – midnight, along the UNESCO-listed Pearling Path.

An integrated mobility system is provided, including free shuttle buses and boat trips from four main ports to Qal’at Bu Mahir, along with a range of free and paid parking options. Golf buggies are available within the festival area for a service fee, distributed across seven stations, and dedicated buses are provided for visitors with disabilities.

The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities invites the public to explore the festival’s daily programme and review details of activities requiring prior registration. Details are available on the Pearling Path website: www.pearlingpath.bh, as well as on social media @CultureBah and @pearlingpath.

M.A.