The third World Culture Festival Karachi 2026 officially opens today, Friday 30 October, as Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurates the 25-day celebration at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi. Around 1,000 artists from 150 countries are taking part, making this edition of the festival the largest cultural gathering in Pakistan’s history.
The festival opened its activities on Thursday with a hip-hop dance performance and a Qawwali Night that drew thousands of spectators, ahead of the formal inauguration ceremony scheduled for today. According to the organisers, the festival will run daily until 22 November, with the closing ceremony planned at the historic Baradari venue.
Grand opening in Karachi
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi President Muhammad Ahmed Shah and Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah briefed the media on the festival’s objectives and programme, with international artists also present at the briefing. Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hussain Shah attended the preview event, where journalists were told that the festival aims to place Pakistan more prominently on the global cultural map.
Muhammad Ahmed Shah said the World Culture Festival Karachi 2026 was not about setting records but about conveying a message of peace, equality, love and cultural harmony to the world. He added that the festival had already played a significant role over the past two years in raising Pakistan’s cultural profile internationally, and that artists from across the globe were travelling to Karachi despite what he described as racial discrimination and government-imposed restrictions in some countries.
Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab had earlier visited the Arts Council, Burns Garden and Baradari at the Polo Ground to review preparations for the festival, accompanied by the Arts Council president. Festival activities will take place across all three venues, showcasing Karachi’s cultural heritage alongside international performances.
1,000 artists, 150 countries: what is on the programme
This year’s programme brings together dancers, musicians, theatre artists, filmmakers, directors, painters and sculptors from 150 countries, with 80 to 85 per cent of the participating artists appearing at the festival for the first time. Pakistani artists representing all provinces will perform alongside international guests, showcasing the country’s cultural diversity from the Himalayan mountain region to the coast of Gwadar.
The international line-up includes Spanish flamenco performers, artists from the British Royal Ballet, approximately 70 performers from two Russian dance groups, and Tajikistan’s presidential orchestra, along with artists arriving from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and several African countries. Five groups from Spain are scheduled to participate, although the Spanish ambassador will be unable to attend due to three days of mourning following a train accident in Spain.
One of the early highlights comes tomorrow, Saturday, when a group of Iranian-origin artists will present Layla Majnun. A special Mehran Night will honour local singers, featuring a local female artist whose photograph was displayed in New York’s Times Square alongside veteran performer Raja Faqir. The festival’s opening programme also included a dance workshop by Ecuadorian group Away Runakuna and a performance by the French hip-hop dance group Zigzag and Cie Alexandra N’ Possee, both warmly received by the audience.
Free for the public, with a message of peace
The organisers have announced that 97 to 98 per cent of the festival’s activities will be free to the public, with online registration available for attendance. Registration may be restricted once venue capacity is reached, and additional arrangements are being made to accommodate growing public interest.
Equality is a stated principle of the festival: every artist will receive equal importance and protocol regardless of financial circumstances, financial assistance has been arranged for international artists facing limited resources, and efforts are being made to include artists with special needs. Muhammad Ahmed Shah emphasised that all human beings were equal and that discrimination based on colour, race, caste, religion or gender was unacceptable.
The cultural diplomacy around the festival is expanding too. A memorandum of understanding on cultural exchange has been signed between the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi and both Ecuador and Mexico, giving artists from the respective countries opportunities to perform and teach in one another’s countries. Similar agreements have already been signed with the United Kingdom and France and Latin America, while discussions on cultural cooperation are under way with Guinness World Records, Art Paris and the European Union, with joint cultural activities being explored with all 27 EU member states.
Security arrangements and venues
Foolproof security arrangements have been made at all festival venues, with the police, specialised security units, civil and military intelligence agencies and other relevant institutions working together. The Arts Council team is working round the clock to ensure the festival’s success, with the media, the Sindh government and the Arts Council collaborating on the arrangements.
Geo is the media partner for the event. The 25-day festival will feature a wide range of cultural activities, including art exhibitions, mega concerts, theatre, music and dance performances — with the closing ceremony’s star attraction, renowned singer Sajjad Ali, set to perform at Baradari.
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