The sound of brass and oud is about to spill through Cairo’s streets once more. As October fades into November, the capital readies itself for a nine-day symphony of improvisation, collaboration, and cultural dialogue.
The Cairo International Jazz Festival/CJF returns for its 17th edition, transforming downtown into a crossroads of rhythm where East meets West, and heritage blends effortlessly with experiment.
From Thursday, Oct. 30 to Friday, Nov. 7, Cairo will host performances across AUC Tahrir Square, El Sawy Culturewheel, Theatro Arkan, and Rawabet Art Space, with additional concerts in Alexandria at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Jesuit Cultural Center.
Ticket prices range between 400 and 600 Egyptian pounds, with several free events — including a documentary screening about Ziad Rahbani’s musical journey at El Sawy Culturewheel’s Wisdom Hall on Sunday, Nov. 2, 5:30 pm.
Audiences can expect more than concerts: workshops, film screenings, Jazz Talks, and Jazzinino, the festival’s children’s program introducing young ears to the world of jazz.
The historic American University in Cairo downtown campus once again anchors the festival—a symbolic hub connecting Cairo’s academic legacy with its dynamic live-music scene. Ewart Memorial Hall and the Garden Stage host the main performances, offering a mix of grand acoustics and open-air energy.
Launched in 2009 by musician-organizer Amro Salah, CJF has grown from intimate downtown sets into a fixture of Cairo’s cultural calendar—one that treats jazz as a global conversation rather than a single style. The mission is explicit in the programming: bring Egyptian and international artists together; mix performance with education; and make room for improvisation, debate, and discovery.
That ethos continues this year with 100+ artists spanning 12+ countries, playing everything from oud-led chamber jazz to contemporary European ensembles and Egyptian hybrid projects.
“I’m really proud of this year’s program,” Salah tells Al Manassa. “It’s the result of a full year of passion, hard work, and endless music discoveries. We’ve put together an exciting, eclectic lineup featuring some of the most inspiring jazz acts lighting up stages across Europe and the world.”
This year’s lineup underscores CJF’s international reach and Cairo roots. Among the best-known names: Egyptian–Australian oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros (with the Egyptian Recording Orchestra conducted by Wagdy El-Fiwy) opens the festival at Ewart Hall, while alternative pioneers Wust El Balad headline the Garden Stage.
Spain’s acclaimed pianist Marco Mezquida and Portugal’s João Barradas Trio lead a strong European presence; Switzerland’s vocal innovator Andreas Schaerer brings A Novel of Anomaly; and the Netherlands-based Sanem Kalfa Quartet presents Televizyon. Cairo staples and rising regional voices — including Hazem Shaheen, Tarek Raouf, Mohamed Rajab, El Dor El Awal, and Sara Moullablad — round out a bill that spans more than a dozen countries.
Beyond the marquee concerts, CJF has always been about its ecosystem: workshops on voice, improvisation and saxophone, Jazz Talks, and films exploring jazz history and politics. This edition features three hands-on workshops (by Søren Baun, Andreas Schaerer, and Sanem Kalfa), a Jazz Talk on “Ziad Rahbani: The Sound of Rebellion,” and two music films — “After a Lifetime” (a documentary on Ziad Rahbani) and “1959: The Year That Changed Jazz.”
A special homage to Ziad Rahbani
CJF 2025 honors the late Ziad RahbaniThis year’s edition is dedicated to the late Lebanese composer, playwright, and cultural icon Ziad Rahbani (1956–2025), whose groundbreaking fusion of Arabic melody, jazz harmony, and political theater reshaped Arab popular music.
At AUC’s Oriental Hall, Syrian cartoonist and satirist Saad Hajo leads a seminar titled “Ziad Rahbani – The Voice of Rebellion,” exploring his artistic and political legacy. The tribute culminates on Nov. 7 with a large-scale concert at Ewart Hall, uniting Hazem Shaheen, Hany Adel, Rana Haggag, Nouran Abutaleb, and Alyaa Nada with the Egyptian Recording Orchestra (conducted by Wagdy El-Fiwy, directed by Bassel Hesham).
Throughout the week, Rahbani’s influence reverberates through films, talks, and performances, making this edition both a commemoration and a reflection on artistic rebellion.
Women in jazz take center stage
In line with the festival’s long-standing priority on inclusion, this year highlights five women-led projects—Rana Haggag, Jamila & The Other Heroes, Sanem Kalfa, Sara Moullablad, and Laura Kipp—underscoring a Cairo scene that is both rooted and forward-looking.
The CJF’s focus on showcasing women in music follows an important precedent recently set on the same campus: Just weeks ago, AUC Tahrir hosted the She Arts Festival, the only arts festival in the MENA region dedicated entirely to celebrating and empowering women across music, film, and visual arts.
Cairo After-Hours
The festival’s rhythm doesn’t fade when the main shows end. Through its After-Hours (“Beyond Stage”) program, CJF spills into Cairo’s nightlife with jam sessions and club gigs that keep the improvisation alive well past midnight.
The late-night pulse centers on Cairo Jazz Club 610 and CJC Agouza, venues long associated with the festival’s spontaneous spirit. On Oct. 30, the Impulse Series opens the nocturnal chapter with deep-house and jazz-infused sets by HoneyLuv, Alsharif B2B DOU, and Ziad Mousa, weaving electronic textures into the festival’s groove.
The next night, Oct. 31, transforms CJC 610 into a Halloween-themed stage where acts like ASH, Disco Misr, and Nedz merge jazz energy with Cairo’s dance-floor spirit.
The week’s rhythm continues until Nov. 7, when 404 Groove x CJC Agouza brings DJs Badawy, Delrady, and Bassel Darwish to close the festival with Afro-house and fusion beats that stretch into the early hours.
Meanwhile, Rawabet Art Space hosts alternative late shows that blur the line between concert and jam. These after-hours gatherings embody the festival’s ethos — improvisation as community.
“This year, the festival is bringing stories, cultures, and connections,” Amro Salah tells Al Manassa. “My hope, as the festival’s programmer, is that this lineup sparks more curiosity, awareness, and love for this exceptional music we all share: Jazz,” he adds. “I wish everyone a great experience at CJF this year and looking forward to a successful edition.”
CJF highlights Egypt’s historical connection to jazz, tracing roots back to the 1930s, and builds on jazz diplomacy traditions exemplified by visits from legendary musicians like Louis Armstrong. The festival continues to grow as a cultural cornerstone, emphasizing jazz’s unique blend of Arab and Western influences and expanding the local jazz scene.
CJF 2025 is presented with the support of the European Union, in collaboration with EUNIC, under the auspices of Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, and with contributions from a number of European and other embassies and cultural institutions.
For readers planning their week, the main hub is AUC Tahrir—with Ewart Hall concerts and outdoor shows on the Garden/Fountain stages, while El Sawy Culturewheel hosts four nights in Wisdom Hall, and Theatro Arkan, Rawabet Art Space, and Alexandria venues add satellite gigs.
Follow the festival’s latest updates on the official website and via Facebook.
