AUC Tahrir Cultrefest Kicks Off With Dazzling Opening Night

The American University in Cairo (AUC) launched today the third edition of AUCTahrir CultureFest 2026 at AUC Tahrir Square, bringing together artists, scholars, performers and members of the public for an evening that set the tone for one of Cairo's most anticipated cultural gatherings of the year. This year’s festival spotlights the future of Cairo under the theme “Future C-AI-RO,” exploring how tradition and technology will shape the city’s future. 

In his remarks at the launch event, AUC President Ahmad Dallal said: "This year's theme invites us to reflect together on the kind of city we want Cairo to become — on how we can shape our future responsibly, building on our history while contributing to innovation and new ways of thinking." He added,  “Over the coming days, the festival brings together artists, scholars, students and partners from across Cairo and beyond that explore the many dimensions of the city’s future.” 

Dallal highlighted the connection between the festival's theme and AUC's academic mission, emphasizing the University's active engagement with questions of technology, artificial intelligence, creativity and entrepreneurship in service of a more inclusive and sustainable urban future.

He also underscored the significance of the festival's setting, noting that the Khairy Pasha Palace — a landmark at the heart of downtown Cairo since the 19th century and part of AUC's story since 1919 — embodies the very balance between heritage and innovation that the festival celebrates. In that spirit, he pointed to the recent restoration of the palace façade as a living example of how preservation and renewal can work hand in hand to keep this historic space active and accessible for generations to come.

The festival’s opening ceremony marked the launch of four exhibitions running throughout its duration, each offering a different perspective on the relationship between heritage, urban change and artificial intelligence.

At the Margo Veillon Gallery, “I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore” by Hassan Ragab explores how artificial intelligence is learning to interpret Cairo’s visual culture. Through immersive digital projections, the exhibition traces a four-year journey where technology and personal experience intersect. It unfolds as a visual timeline, reflecting both the evolution of AI-generated imagery and the artist’s shifting sense of identity.

Also at the Margo Veillon Gallery, “Time Will Tell” brings together artists and AI to imagine possible futures for Cairo. The works on display consider the environmental, technological and cultural forces shaping the city today, offering multiple visions of what lies ahead.

At the AUC Future Gallery, “Anah: Conversations with AI” by Samia Mehrez ’77, ’79 and multimedia expert Amr Ali explores the human side of working with artificial intelligence. The exhibition features sculptural pieces made from recycled materials such as plastic bottles, alongside interactive projections, sound and AI-generated text that responds in real time. At its center is “Anah,” an AI persona whose name reflects the Arabic word for “I,” giving technology a more personal and tangible presence.

Completing the exhibitions, “Future C—AI—RO” at the AUC Legacy Gallery presents visual identity concepts developed by AUC students as part of their Logo and Visual Identity course. Working in teams, the students created strategic ideas and design proposals inspired by the festival’s theme, “Future Cairo.” Each team offered a unique direction, with one final design selected to represent the festival’s visual identity.

The exhibitions were followed by Whispers of the Walls, a captivating projection light show in which the historic facades of AUC Tahrir Square became storytellers — tracing the journey of the building from its first sketches and construction to its life as a place of learning and culture, before expanding the narrative beyond the campus to the city of Cairo itself. 

What to Expect on Friday,  April 3: A Day of Technology, Innovation, Culture and Art
The festival continues tomorrow, Friday, April 3, from 11 am to 9 pm, with a full day of talks, panels, performances, exhibitions, children's programming, a book fair, a bazaar and a food fair.

Tomorrow's program features a rich lineup of talks and hands-on activities. Sahar Saleem, professor of radiology at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, and co-author of Scanning the Pharaohs, will deliver a talk titled "Digital Resurrection: How Medical Imaging Is Transforming Egyptology.” Saleem has studied hundreds of mummies, including 40 pharaohs, and will shed light on how CT scanning, underground X-raying and facial reconstructions are revolutionizing our understanding of ancient Egypt and its rulers.

Moataz Darwish '95, associate professor of practice, Heikal Department of Management, AUC, will lead an interactive workshop titled "Scenario Thinking: The Future of Cairo,"  where participants are invited to imagine multiple possible futures for the city, building on trends such as population growth, climate change and technology.  

Several activities, including robotics exploration and AI demonstrations, will be held at the Innovation Discovery Zone in the Armenian Room,  a dynamic drop-in area open to all festival visitors across both days, offering guided 30-minute hands-on sessions with expert instructors.  

The festival also takes participants beyond the campus walls with "Back to Cairo: From Firsts to the Future," a walking tour led by Qahrawya in collaboration with AUC. Besides, four screenings of the Best of ANIMATEX 2026 will be featured, showcasing winning films from the official competition, including short films for children, short animated films celebrating 90 years of Egyptian animation, and the oldest surviving animated feature film in the world, produced 100 years ago.

The festival program also features a range of performances and interactive experiences across campus. At the Main Garden, “Weaving Wonder” offers a storytelling session led by the co-founder of El-Hakawaty Initiative, known for reviving the art of storytelling across Egypt, followed by “World of Wonders: A Puppet Tale,” a lively journey through sights, sounds and flavors celebrating the culinary and wedding traditions of Egypt, Kuwait and Palestine.

Ewart Memorial Hall will host Tomorrow’s World by Sitara, an original interactive family play written and directed by Emma Davies and performed in both English and Arabic. The day will conclude with a concert at the outdoor stage, where AUC alumnus Hisham Kharma ’03 presents a powerful fusion performance that brings together orchestral emotion and modern technology, blending live strings, Middle Eastern influences and electronic elements with immersive sound design to create a dynamic experience that connects cultures and generations.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The AUC Tahrir CultureFest is an annual celebration of Cairo’s vibrant cultural, artistic and intellectual heritage and its global significance. Since its Launch in 2024, the festival has attracted thousands of visitors, bringing together diverse communities, artists, academics and thought leaders through a dynamic program that highlights Cairo’s rich history, innovation and creativity as a city and cultural hub.

WHEN AND WHERE

Friday, April 3, 2026 

AUC Tahrir Square - entrance from all gates. 

11 am to 9 pm.

Please check the AUC Tahrir CultureFest 2026 program for the specific timings of all events: tahrirculturefest.aucegypt.edu/program 

MEDIA COVERAGE

Media interested in coverage should contact Sameh Selima, associate director of Media Relations, at 01280009078 or [email protected]. Media will be required to present valid credentials.