Festivals

The months of June, July and August are the time when the Lebanese cultural scene hosts several international festivals of diverse programs and themes.

Under the columns of Jupiter’s temple or in the heart of the temple of Bacchus, the Baalbeck International Festival offers every year to its audience an occasion to witness unforgettable moments of artistic emotions. In years past, it has hosted such popular acts as Deep Purple, Mika, Sting, Notre Dame de Paris, Riverdance, and the Eifman ballet of St. Petersburg.

Forty-five kilometers southeast of Beirut, in the happening town of Chouf, in a palace known as Beiteddine, the Beiteddine International Festival awaits thousands of spectators every summer. The 200-year-old palace, built by Emir Bashir Chehab II, once the headquarters of Al Moutasarifiya, and now the summer residence of Lebanese presidents, has welcomed numerous great international, regional and local artists, including Fairuz, Kazem Al Saher, Tito Puente, Elton John, Charles Aznavour, Madeleine Peyroux and Placido Domingo.

The Byblos International Festival, held annually since 2003 on a stage built over the Byblos harbor, has welcomed great shows such as Grease the musical, Placebo, Jimmy Cliff, Erik Truffaz Group, Keane, Patty Smith and the Gorillaz.

The Tyre Festival, the Batroun Summer Festival, the Tripoli International Festival, The Deir El Qamar Festival and the Zouk Mikael Festival are all great events to be part of as well, allowing you to enjoy great performances as well as discover new cities and towns in Lebanon.

Some festivals also happen before the summer season, most important of which is the Al Bustan Festival of all things classical. Held annually over a five-week period in February and March since 1994, it has become synonymous with world-class performances of chamber music, opera, orchestral concerts, choral concerts, dance, marionettes and theatre. In keeping with its cultural vocation, the Festival also organizes master classes and workshops, with artists from the National Conservatory in Beirut and other institutions across Lebanon.