Beiteddine Art Festival's 2017 program was launched by its president, Ms. Nora Joumblat, at a press conference on Wednesday.

Joumblat stressed the importance of supporting cultural events in Lebanon and criticized the constant increase of taxes on festival tickets.

Speaking to Stepfeed, representatives of the festival explained that this year's edition, which starts on July 1, is going to feature performances that are all special in their own right.

The festival will continue to be a beacon of culture, heritage and art across the Arab world, they said, adding that nothing will deter its organizers from their mission to create platforms for creativity in the Middle East.

According to the newly released program, this year's edition will feature international, regional and local artists including Majida Al Roumi, Kadim Al Saher, Jordi Savall, Omar Kamal, Emel Mathlouthi and The Political Circus.

A leading festival in the Middle East

Beiteddine festival was founded in the summer of 1985 in the midst of the Lebanese civil war.

Its launch, at the time, was considered a leap of faith and an attempt to revive Lebanon's cultural and creative scene.

Two years after its start, Nora Joumblat and an executive committee became the official organizers of the festival, and ever since it has become a leading regional and international annual event. 

Every year it features artists from all around the world who come to Lebanon to perform at the magnificent, 200-year old historic Beiteddine palace.

Thousands of people from across the Arab world attend the festival every year.