2026: 18th edition
The 18th edition of the Beirut Spring Festival takes place from 24 August to 26 September 2026, following its rescheduling due to the 2026 war. Across 11 evenings, the Festival presents three performances spanning film, photography, installation, music, poetry, spoken word, and dance at four venues in Beirut and Tripoli, including Metropolis Cinema, Beit al-Fan, Alfred Tarazi Studio, and the Académie libanaise des beaux-arts (ALBA).
The program features a documentary reconstructing the collective memory of the Lebanese Civil War in Tripoli and Akkar between 1975 and 1986 through firsthand testimonies; the second of five parts of an animated history of Beirut, tracing its emergence as a modern city in 1860 through its invasion in 1982 and covering the period from 1920 to 1958; and a multidisciplinary work of film, music, poetry, spoken word, and dance documenting Beirut’s post-explosion heritage restoration through the symbolic journey of a damaged piano.
Co-funded by the European Union through the Memory on Stage initiative, the Festival remains free of charge thanks to the generous support of eight partners and patrons.
This year’s program features projects awarded the “Tech for Memory” Festival Grant following a call for applications for artistic performances. Launched in 2025 by the Samir Kassir Foundation, Tech for Memory is a European Union-funded initiative that empowers local Lebanese artists and cultural organizations to use digital tools and contemporary platforms to explore Lebanon’s fragmented history, address the country’s fragmented collective memory, and preserve and promote its cultural heritage. The projects culminate in major artistic performances that premiere as part of the Beirut Spring Festival.
This edition was possible thanks to the commitment of the artists, the support of the Board members and the staff of the Samir Kassir Foundation. We also acknowledge the contribution of the Foundation's members and our friends who wish to remain anonymous.
Memory on Stage
BSF2026 Request for Proposals
Submissions for Memory on Stage 2026, our BSF2026 Request for Proposals for artistic performances to be part of our upcoming edition, were due by 30 November 2025.
Local artists and cultural organizations in Lebanon were invited to propose theatre, music, dance, visual installations, or multimedia work, with a total budget of up to EUR 50,000.
This project is funded by the European Union-backed “Tech for Memory” project, which aims to preserve Lebanon’s cultural heritage and address fragmented memory.
