The Institut du Monde Arabe shines a light on all the arts, from music to cinema, through photography and fashion. From December 1 to 6, 2026, dive into the contemporary artistic creation of the Arab world, in Paris.
It's back for another edition: a splash of culture and art with L'IMA fait son festival! From December 1 to December 6, 2026, the Arab World Institute spotlights artists from every generation and across all creative fields, offering a sweeping view of contemporary art in the Arab world.
Music, photography, painting, cinema, fashion, poets and writers, dance, performance... The artistic field is broad and varied. The creators waiting for you at the IMA this December as well! More than 45 creators from around ten different countries draw us into their worlds through performances and acts, concerts, exhibitions, workshops, and film screenings...
With this festival,the IMA showcases the richness and diversity of voices in the Arab world. These artists, who come from different backgrounds, represent both their culture and their own identity, with their joys, fears, and hopes reflected in their work.
Culture is thriving as well — of course — through the audience, invited to immerse themselves in every event. Dance along to the musical evening, take in the photographs on display, or applaud the dancers and musicians performing in the IMA’s spaces: this festival spotlights a living and vibrant culture.
Don’t wait to check out the program for this 2026 edition, and lock in your tickets for individual events on the ticketing page of the Arab World Institute. Prices vary depending on the event.
The IMA's program goes all out for its festival:
- 01 December 2026
Signing session with Ziad Rahbani, Toufic Farroukh Grand Ensemble & Lynn Adib
Toufic Farroukh pays tribute to Ziad Rahbani, the prodigious Lebanese artist who died too soon.
- 02 December 2026
Charbel Rouhana Quintet
Lebanese oud maestro Charbel Rouhana revisits his repertoire and invites us to rediscover his unmistakable sonic world.
- 02 December 2026
A Dancer on the Edge… Cabaret Loulou
A solo by Rolly Dib
Born from the desire to dance freely, Cabaret Loulou is an imaginary space where women’s bodies shed the male gaze, Orientalist clichés, perfectionism, and the pressure to stay young.
- 03 December 2026
Leïla chérie: Soundscape – Tribute to Leïla Shahid
Leïla chérie: soundscape is a sonic, collective homage to Leïla Shahid, the face and voice of Palestine in the Francophone world, who passed away in February 2026.
- 03 December 2026
Chayyel - Rayess Bek and Joan Baz
With Chayyel, Rayess Bek and Joan Baz reinvent the dabkeh in an audiovisual creation that sits at the crossroads of concert, performance, and installation, with a strong emphasis on improvisation.
- 04 December 2026
Labes - Selim Ben Safia
Labes, in Arabic, means “everything is fine.” In this piece for four dancers and a musician, Selim Ben Safia explores the opposing notions of refusal and resilience to craft a choreography of “happiness anyway.”
- From 05 to 06 December 2026
Dancing Memory Freely
Raqs Sharqi Dance Workshops
Led by Rolly Dib, the Raqs Sharqi workshops—also known as Oriental dance or belly dance—celebrate it as a living art continually passed on and shared.
- From 05 to 06 December 2026
The Tales of Mohammed Dib
With Lila Borsali and Mayya Sanbar
An event for all ages featuring the tales of Algerian writer Mohammed Dib, embodied by Lila Borsali and Mayya Sanbar. A fresh immersion into Maghreb vernacular culture.
- From 05 to 06 December 2026
Harmonies of the Aurès - IWAL
At the intersection of concert and storytelling, Harmonies of the Aurès invites children and adults on a poetic, sensory journey to meet the living world.
- From 05 to 06 December 2026
Kebir - Nassim Baddag and Andrea Bou Othmane
Kebir brings together dancers and choreographers Nassim Baddag and Andrea Bou Othmane with singer Mohammed El Arabi-Serghini in an unexpected, delicate dialogue between contemporary dance and ancient song.
- 05 December 2026
Palestine Connection
Ramzi Aburedwan - Osloob - Radio Gaza
A poetic, musical, and political evening in three programs with Ramzi Aburedwan, Osloob, and Radio Gaza, exploring Palestinian music across classical, rock, hip-hop, and rap repertoires.
- From 05 to 06 December 2026
Dancing Memory Freely
Raqs Sharqi Dance Workshops
Led by Rolly Dib, the Raqs Sharqi workshops—also called Oriental or belly dance—are celebrated as a living art that is passed along and shared.
- From 05 to 06 December 2026
The Tales of Mohammed Dib
With Lila Borsali and Mayya Sanbar
An event for all ages centered on the tales of Algerian writer Mohammed Dib, performed by Lila Borsali and Mayya Sanbar. A fresh dive into Maghreb vernacular culture.
- 06 December 2026
Kasba Houariyat
Kasba Houariyat takes the stage with Marrakech’s beating heart. Originating from the old medina, this all-female ensemble performs traditional Moroccan music rooted in the Amazigh Houara heritage near Agadir
Don't miss this multicultural festival at the IMA — you'll have to wait an entire year for it to return for the next edition!
