After a forced break—during which only art exhibitions continued—the Beiteddine Festival returns more determined than ever to leave its mark on Lebanon’s artistic scene. The 2025 edition marks a true revival for the Chouf region, now a cultural gem drawing artists and audiences from across the globe.
A major highlight of the festival’s press conference was the announcement by the Minister of Culture of an upcoming restoration project for the Beiteddine Palace, supported by international funding. The news was met with enthusiastic applause, just in time for Lebanon’s National Heritage Day, held every third Thursday of May.
🌟 Festival Line-Up
📍 July 3 – J’Nai Bridges & Jonathan Ware
The festival opens with world-class opera. Making her debut in Lebanon, celebrated American mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges—dubbed the “Beyoncé of opera” and a two-time Grammy Award winner—will perform a captivating recital combining Italian Bel Canto, Mahler, Mozart, Bernstein, and Gershwin.
She’ll be accompanied by acclaimed pianist Jonathan Ware, renowned for his collaborations with the finest voices of our time.
📍 July 10 – Diwaniyat Hob – A Tribute to the Icons of Arab Music In an exclusive festival production, Jahida Wehbé, Lubana al-Quntar, and Reham Abdel Hakim come together to honor the legacy of Oum Kalthoum, Fairuz, Warda, and Abdel Halim Hafez. Led by maestro Ahmad Taha and supported by a 25-piece orchestra, this unforgettable night will blend nostalgia, poetry, and passion.
📍 July 18 – Naseer Shamma: Modon Al Narjess Iraqi oud master Naseer Shamma returns with 14 international musicians to perform Modon Al Narjess, a powerful work promoting dialogue between cultures. Known for his humanitarian efforts and commitment to education, Shamma’s music transcends borders and speaks to the soul.
📍 July 23 & 24 – Anything Goes (Kello Masmouh) starring Carole Samaha A spectacular Arabic adaptation of Cole Porter’s Broadway classic Anything Goes, this musical comedy marks Carole Samaha’s grand return to the stage. Directed by Roy Khoury, the show fuses swing, satire, song, and dance in an energetic production featuring 50 performers and a live orchestra.
📍 July 27 – Dance Around the World – Celebrating Youth & Music
To close the festival, the LeBAM National Wind Symphony, made up of 37 young Lebanese musicians, will take the audience on a musical journey around the globe.
All proceeds will benefit the Teach Me Music initiative, which offers free access to music education—a joyful and meaningful finale to this year’s edition.
🎨 Art Exhibitions
🖼️ Unfolding Landscapes
Presented in collaboration with BeMA and the British Council, this exhibition launches the Ambulant Arts initiative and explores landscapes as vessels of memory and cultural heritage.
🖼️ Nothing but Flowers
Curated by Saleh Barakat, this exhibition pays tribute to Lebanese artists who have immortalized floral beauty on canvas—from Omar Onsi to Bibi Zoghbi.
Beiteddine Festival 2025 promises to be a celebration of art, music, memory, and revival. Join us this summer as we bring back the heartbeat of culture to the mountains of Lebanon.
