How to plan your Cairo Jazz Festival 2026: set times, tickets and doors
The 18th Cairo International Jazz Festival runs 5 to 7 November at AUC Tahrir Square. Here is who plays when, on which stage, what each ticket costs and the rules at the door.
Ewart Memorial Hall, AUC Tahrir Square, 22 Mohammed Mahmoud Street, Downtown Cairo
The Cairo International Jazz Festival returns for its 18th edition from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 November, again at its long-time home, the American University in Cairo's Tahrir Square campus, with extra concerts at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This year brings musicians from 12 countries, from Egypt, Algeria and Turkey to Denmark, Malta and Portugal, plus workshops, talks and activities for children. These steps take you from choosing a night to getting through the door.
Thursday 5 November, the opening
one stage, in Ewart Memorial Hall. The festival opens at 7pm, Danish singer Nana Rashid plays at 8pm and Hisham Kharma closes the night at 9:30pm. Doors open at 6pm.
Friday 6 November, two stages
the sets move between the Garden Stage and Ewart Hall. Warren Galea Trio from Malta starts at 5pm on the Garden Stage, the Michelangelo Scandroglio Quartet from Italy plays Ewart Hall at 6pm, ARIFA with Mohamed Sawwah is on the Garden Stage at 7:15pm, Hazem Shaheen plays Ewart Hall at 8:30pm, and Harfoush and The Egyptian Jazz Projekt close on the Garden Stage at 9:45pm.
Saturday 7 November, the long day
a Bandmakers Music Academy showcase opens on the Fountain Stage at 1pm. From 5pm the Guido Spannocchi Quartet, the Xavi Torres Trio from Spain, the Manuel Linhares Quartet from Portugal and Swiss duo Bachlin and Elkholy alternate between the two stages, and Sharkiat, Fathy Salama's band with Algerian singer Karima Nayt, closes the festival on the Garden Stage at 9:45pm.
Choose your ticket
each day is sold on its own on Tickets Marche, from EGP 500 to EGP 800. The Full Access pass covers all three days for EGP 1,000, less than two days at the top price. On Friday and Saturday the tickets include the Garden Stage.
Know the rules
seating is free, first come first served, so arrive early for a good seat in Ewart Hall. Doors open at 6pm on Thursday and at 11am on Friday and Saturday. Every guest aged seven or over needs a full ticket, and children under seven are not allowed in. Food and drinks are not allowed inside Ewart Hall.
Get there without driving
parking downtown is hard on a weekend night. The campus sits just off Tahrir Square, with Ewart Hall's entrance listed on Mohammed Mahmoud Street, and Sadat metro station is under the square, so the metro or a ride-hailing car is the easiest way in. Prices can change, so check the ticket page before you pay.