Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts 2026

The Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts is Jordan’s most prominent annual arts event and one of the most distinctive festival settings in the Middle East. Running for 17 nights each July and August, performances take place among the colonnaded streets and amphitheatres of Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. The South Theatre, with seating for approximately 3,000 and its original Roman stone tiers intact, serves as the main performance venue.

History and significance

The festival was established in 1981 and has run almost every year since, interrupted only briefly by regional events. It was created to use the ancient city as a living cultural stage and to attract Arab and international artists whose work gains a unique dimension when performed against 2,000-year-old Roman architecture. Over the decades it has hosted major names from Arabic music and theatre alongside international orchestras, flamenco companies, and Indian classical dance troupes.

What to expect

Each evening runs from around 9:00 pm to midnight, with multiple concurrent performances across different stages within the archaeological site. The South Theatre hosts the headline acts — typically major Arabic music performers, orchestras, or international shows. Smaller stages near the Oval Plaza and the North Theatre host folk music, traditional dabke dance, and local Jordanian performing arts groups.

The 2026 programme will be announced in May or June; check the Jordan Tourism Board and the official Jerash Festival social media channels for confirmed acts. Historically, tickets for the most popular nights (especially headline Arabic artists) sell out within days of the programme being released.

Tickets and logistics

Ticket prices vary significantly by performance and seating section, ranging from approximately JOD 10 for smaller stage events to JOD 50—80 for premium South Theatre seats for headline acts. Tickets are sold through the official festival box office and select Amman ticketing outlets. The site entrance fee for the archaeological park is separate and costs around JOD 10 for non-Jordanians during the day; festival ticket holders typically enter the site for the evening event only.

Jerash is 48 kilometres north of Amman, roughly 50 minutes by car. Public minibuses from Amman’s North Bus Station run to Jerash town throughout the day; evening festival transport is more limited so taxis or shared private vehicles are the practical option for returning to Amman after the show. Many visitors stay overnight in Amman and make a dedicated evening trip. Our Jerash city guide has full details on getting there and what to see during the day before the evening performance.